WAR ECONOMIES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 2, 27 September 1939, Page 6

WAR ECONOMIES

Transport Industry

Restrictions

SAVING OF PETROL

By Telegraph—Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 26.

Heavy economies in the transport industry as an emergency measure have been announced by Mr. T. H. Langford, licensing authority for the Canterbury-Nelson-Marlborough and Westland district. Numerous services will be suspended or restricted and a large volume of traffic diverted to the railways to save petrol. The Railways Department itself will abandon all its road goods services in this district from next Monday till the war ends.

Though, with similar economies adopted in other sections of the transport industry, there will be many men who will lose their present jobs, it is expected that other positions will be found for them.

Many of the trucks it is iuteuded to divert to defence purposes.

In announcing these measures, Mr. Langford said that they were being taken with the full co-operation of the transport industry. It would be understood that in the present emergency economy in the use of petrol was essential. Though the Government had said that the transport Industry would be the last to lose its petrol, it was also desired . that the industry should make whatever economies were possible. He had reviewed the situation with the full collaboration of the industry.

There were two courses, diversion of traffic to the railways and further rationalization of road services. This was a difficult job to undertake, but it had been made easier because of the willing co-operation of those concerned. It meant that several parties would have their licences suspended while war lasted. They would undoubtedly lose through this, but they had indicated readiness to co-operate with the Government in any proposal directed to the conservation of national resources, and appreciation of their attitude was due to them.

Every effort would be made to find work elsewhere for the men who would inevitably lose their jobs.

Abandonment of the Railways Department road goods services while the war lasted had been arranged in No. 3 district. He understood that it was under consideration in other districts also.

The first list of licences to be suspended or restricted for the duration of the war is as follows: Rink Taxis, Ltd., suspension of right to carry general goods on the Christchurch-Parnas-sus section of the Christchurch-Kai-koura route, effective from October 2. Ashburton Transport Company, Ltd., suspension of right to carry general goods on the routes Ashburton-Christ-church and Ashburton-Timaru; two vehicle authorities for the Ashburton County will also he suspended, effective from October 3. Mrs. E. E. P. Williams, suspension of right to carry gen--eral goods on the Eastern Bays-Christ-church route, effective from September 2G. J. G. Harper, right to carry general goods on the route ChristchurehKowhai Bush, restricted to Tuesdays and Fridays only, effective from October 3. Estate of J. Durie, right to carry general goods on the route Wood-end-Amlberley, via Seftpn-Balcairn and Leithfleld, restricted to carriage of goods on the route Woodend-Leithfield direct on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, effective from September 30. Smart and Sons.-Ltd., restrictions on the Chrlstchurch-Methven and Christ-church-Oxford routes.