Decision Reserved In Car Transport

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31076, 3 June 1966, Page 3

Decision Reserved In Car Transport

(New Zealand Press Association)

BLENHEIM, June 2.

The No. 9 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr J. S. Haywood) today reserved his decision in the hearing of the application for eight vehicle authorities by Car Haulaways (N.Z.), Ltd., to transport trade cars between Picton and Christchurch.

The application was heard in Blenheim over the last three days.

The company had not shown that the application was in the public interest, but the Railways Department believed the public interest would be adversely affected if the application was granted, said Mr B. J. A. Cathro, counsel for

the railways, in his submissions.

Mr R. Stacey, for the company, said the company’s initial application in Christchurch last year which was declined, was made when the company could show a history of transporting only 850 cars in 12 weeks. Since then 5500 cars had been transported. “We share the common grief with the railways that neither of us is making money out of it,” he said.

The cause was the grossly illogical situation of the company’s extensive North Island operations being brought to a halt at the Wellington wharves.

Public interest was represented by the towns of Picton and Blenheim, and the smaller ones along the route which benefited by the additional commerce: by the car-buying public and by the door-to-door service given by his company.

While the Aramoana did not concern the hearing, the demise of coastal shipping had presented the railways with a marine monopoly making an astonishing profit. It was a wonder that they had not reduced their charges long before this, said Mr Stacey.