No confidence in Minister

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33786, 7 March 1975, Page 3

No confidence in Minister

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, March 6.

The Dannevirke branch of the Labour Party has passed a motion of no-confidence in the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) because of his “failure to get the Dannevirke railway waggon-transporter into operation.”

Speaking at a meeting of the branch this week, the waggon transporter’s inventor and chairman of the branch (Mr A. Patterson) congratulated the committee on its stand, taken last year He said today that his branch believed the Government had failed to keep an election promise that: “The transport licensing sections of the Transport Act will be reviewed to ensure the optimum use of capital, plant, and equipment and to encourage existing licensees to attain maximum efficiency in their operations.” Mr Patterson’s transporter, built for $6OOO. allows railway waggons to be railed off railway sidings on to an eight-axle road transporter. The waggon and contents can [then be taken away, the 'waggon emptied and possibly backloaded. Mr Patterson believes his invention is of not much use in centres such as Palmerston North where cranes and

forklifts are available. But in smaller centres, such as Dannevirke, it has tremendous advantages, he says. LICENCE FEES However, for the trailer to be used on the road an $8 heavy traffic licence fee was required for two days or $l2 for a weekly fee, Mr Patterson said. An annual payment of $BOO could also be made. Mr Patterson said the cost of the licence fees drove customers away, and he had asked the Minister to take action on the fees.

“But it’s my opinion they don’t want to give any more concessions on the slom they get for heavy traffic fees now,” he said.

“I’ve been writing to this Minister and the previous Minister for 15 years on this.” Die last time the transporter had been used was about five years ago when a farmer loaded* 12 waggons with wheat on his farm.