CARRYING TRADE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 8

CARRYING TRADE

Suggestion Of Compulsory Organization DUNEDIN PROTEST By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 12. A premonition of compulsory organization of all individuals in the carrying trade was voiced at a sitting of the Transport Authority, when, on behalf of a number of carriers of long standing in the city, Mr. O. G. Stevens spoke of the disadvantage at which the men would be placed. After the granting of a licence to a carrier, the Transport Authority, Mr. S. V. Raines, stressed the advantages the association could offer. “Town carriers,” he said, “for some time have been asking to be licensed by the Transport Department. At an early date they will probably be compelled to become members of the association, and as such it will be incumbent on them to attend meetings. There they should be able to improve their posi tion and reduce operating costs by coordination of work.” Air. Stevens said lie desired to air the question exercising the minds of certain carriers at present. He realized that tbe Minister and the authority were desirous of the formation of the association, but there were two vital objections to the association, as it had been already formed. In the first place town carriers, taxi drivers and heavy haulers were all in one organization. “There are very strong objections to this,” he said. “These men consider themselves dragooned into the association. The other point is that ..voting power is assessed on the basis of one vote, one vehicle. This principle -is not just and not democratic. To compel carriers to join the association in which voting power is so unfairly distributed is nothing less than iniquitous,” concluded Mr.. Stevens. . Mr. Raines: These remarks should be addressed to the Minister. Mr. Stevens: We have been in touch with the Minister and are informed that the association is in force. The association has some standing at present, and your remarks concerning it will cause men to think it their duty to join the association. Town carriers should not be tied to the wheel of th.e master carriers.

A spirited protest regarding the attitude of the Otago Master Carriers’ Association, represented by Mr. Ward, J.P., was earlier made by Mr. Stevens Immediately after the hearing of the first application for a town carrier's licence, Mr. Ward submitted.that the cases of 16 operators should be taken at once.

“I do not wish to know’ the reason for this attitude, or who these selfappointed dictators may be,” said Mr. Stevens. “With this same object of saving time and expense I asked particularly’ at the beginning of proceedings for a list of carriers to whose applications the opposition of the association would be given, and that was refused.

"The case just heard, which the association opposed, occupied 25 minutes, and it is beginning to look as though we might be here for the duration.” Mr. Raines intimated that cases would be disposed of in the absence of applicants.