“Fierce Competition” In Road Transport Industry

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 3

“Fierce Competition” In Road Transport Industry

(New Zealand Press Association)

WANGANUI, Oct. 2. Road transport operators in the Manawatu area had often lost business since the freeing of restrictions on the road cartage of livestock, said Mr D. P. Domett (Manawatu) at the annual conference of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance in Wanga. nui today. Mr Domett spoke during .discussions on a Manawatu remit advocating the rearrangement of transport licensing district boundaries “to follow the pattern of present-day flow of traffic,” The remit provoked lively discussion, and strong opposition was expressed against the proposal, on the ground that some of the larger operators sought to gain the support of the Road Transport Alliance for their personal ends. Speakers maintained that the lifting of the Railways’ restriction on road cartage of livestock had, failed to achieve its purpose in the road transport industry. It had created additional problems, and a fierce competition- among operator:! for the business formerly handled by the Railways. Mr W. Cooke (Southern Hawkes Bay) described the remit as "a selfish blandishment by a large branch at the expense of a small branch.” He accused Manawatu delegatee of seeking the alliance’s sympathy and support for a move really designed to encroach on other transport operators’ rights. "nite proposal is nothing more than a concealed step to gain support for an amend, ment to the legislation, to enable Manawatu operators to move into the southern Hawke's Bay area,” he said.

Mr A. R Fairbrother (Wairarapa) also opposed the remit on the ground that the northern members of his branch were concerned at moves being made by the nearby Manawatu branch.

Price-cutting entered into the matter, he said. The Wairarapa and southern Hawkes Bay districts were “fruitful” areas for the breeding of stock. The Manawatu carriers wete prepared to operate cheaply, and individual choice depended largely on price. Replying to the allegations. Mr Domett said that although the remit was sponsored by the Manawatu branch, the issues involved affected many operators ip

New Zealand. He chart

that the Southern Hawke’s Bay branch, and - not his branch, was “being selfish.”

Carriers should have the benefit of business in their own district without ’being beseiged unduly by outside operators, said another Wairarapa delegate. A King Country delegate said that Waikato transport operators were threatening the existence and livelihood of King Country carriers. If the conference supported the Manawatu remit a lot of King Country operators would be out of business, he said. The . remit was heavily beaten when put to the vote,