Drivers, union at odds

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32779, 2 December 1971, Page 10

Drivers, union at odds

Truck-drivers came Into conflict with their own union at a sitting of the No. 9 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr J. M. Dwyer), in Ashburton this week.

Two transport companies— E. R. Cochrane, Ltd and Hinds Transport, Ltd —wanted an extension of maximum driving hours from 13 hours a day to 15 hours.

Drivers from both companies who gave evidence before the authority welcomed the extension. They did not think that there was any “upper limit” on the hours a driver could work a week. In addition, they were glad of the overtime the extension, if, granted, would mean. “Risk to safety”

But Mr N. L. Dunnill, representing the Canterbury Drivers’ Union, “strongly opposed” any extension of the hours a driver be permitted to work in a week.

“The union has always opposed any extension because of the risk to safety of both the drivers and the public,” he said. "However, if the extension is granted, I would like an assurance from the companies that the new limits would be strictly adhered to.”

The companies, both represented by Mr K. G. Doig, were granted the extension. The Authority said that he would be reviewing the whole question of driving hours in February, as the situation was at present very disjointed and piecemeal—even in the Ashburton County.

Competitors’ concessions “In view of the cases they have presented, and because the extensions will apply in the most favourable months of the year, they should be as well off as anyone else,” he said.

The companies were also granted permission to transport livestock to freezing works in the No. 10 and No. 11 Transport Districts, with backloads from these, and were each granted the addition of extra general goods

licences by transferring this use to existing vehicle authorities. The secretary of Hinds Transport, Ltd (Mr J. E. Ross) and the accountant for E. R. Cochrane, Ltd (Mr R. R.

Brunton) said that their companies had increased their carting operations, and the applications were necessary to keep up with their competitors, all of whom already had these concessions.