Grapes become exempt from transport licensing

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 23

Grapes become exempt from transport licensing

Parliamentary reporter

The transport of fresh grapes between growers and wine-makers will be exempt from transport licensing for this year’s harvest. The exemption has taken effect after the gazetting of an Order in Council. The Minister of Transport (Mr Gair) said that the Government had indicated last year, as part of its. consideration of the Wine Industry Development ' Plan, that grapes would become exempt from transport licensing. He said the Order in Council would honour the Government's decision in respect of this year’s harvest, and the policy for future years would be looked at as part of the Government’s review of road transport licensing. However, the decision has come under fire from the New Zealand Road Transport Association, which says that the move would spell disaster for carriers who have geared up to do this work and who have been specialists in this field.

A North Island company with bases in Rotorua and Gisborne, Direct Transport, has reported that two big clients have already cancelled substantial contracts, for grape cartage. The clients will now use carriers who previously did not have authority to cart grapes and who apparently lack the special equipment for the job. Mr G. Sutcliffe, the Assistant General Manager of Direct Transport, said his firm had 12 vehicles scheduled to move bulk grapes.

“We have just spent some $25,000 gearing up for the work, which we rely on to see us through the seasonal peaks and troughs in our rural operation. It will mean a loss of about $14,000 in turnover alone,” he said. “But what really concerns us is the Government’s action in manipulating the licensing system, tinkering with it to please interests outside the transport industry. “There was absolutely no

consultation with the road transport industry and we understand the move was initiated by the Wine Growers’ Institute through the Department of Trade and Industry,” said Mr Sutcliffe.

The President of the Road Transport Association (Mr J. Stuart) has also expressed grave concern at the move.

“We understand that the New Railways Corporation was also unaware of it,” he said. “Our association is dismayed that there was no consultation with us before the move was initiated. The licensing system exists to preserve stability and employment within the industry, and to allow carriers to specialise in types of cartage' requiring special equipment and a significant capital cost. “We are alarmed that the Government has chosen to meddle with the system, after lobbying from a small sector of the manufacturing industry, without any prior consultation with the industry most vitally concerned, the road transport industry,” Mr Stuart said.