TRANSPORT CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 18

TRANSPORT CHARGES

Farmers Oppose Fixed Schedule Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, July 29. A certain amount of opposition to the suggestion that the charges for transport should be fixed wars raised when the schedule of prices submitted by the Wanganui and District branch of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance was considered at a conference in Wanganui last night between transport operators and representatives of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. P. M. Skoglund, chairman of No. 2 District Licensing Authority, was also present, but after a long discussion no decision was reached. Mr. Skoglund said it was to the farmers’ advantage to have a fixed schedule of prices for transport on the roads. The Government would not permit exploitation by either party. The financial statements of carriers up to the end of March last showed that few of them were making a living wage. It was hoped that by putting the business on a firm foundation carriers would be able to give more efficient service. Mr. A. S. Coleman said that in the Rangitikei district farmers had absolute faith in the carriers. It was not their intention to agree to any guaranteed price. Mr. Skoglund said the Government was making an honest attempt to be fair to all parties. The Minister of Transport had said, he was out to eliminate the undesirable features of unfair competition, particularly price-cutting. It was necessary to protect the stable operator from the irresponsible, to regulate competition, and to stabilise the rates to ensure a fair return. The majority of farmers present opposed the price-fixation scheme, and Mr. K. Armstrong, secretary of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said he had been instructed to voice the opposition of his organisation.