CARRYING TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 142, 13 December 1939, Page 8

CARRYING TRADE

DUNEDIN PROTEST

COMPULSORY ORGANISATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, December 12,

A premonition of compulsory organisation 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 a f 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 -he 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 position and reduce operating costs by coordination of work."

Mr.-Stevens- said he desired to r.ir the, question- exercising the minds .of certain "carriers at 'present. He realised that the Minister and the authority were desirous of the formation of the association, but there were two vital

objections to!the.,asspciation as it. -.ad been already formed. In the first place town carriers, taxi drivers, and heavy haulers were all'in one organisation. "There are very strong objections to this," he said.. "These mep consider themselves dragooned into the association. The other point is that voting power is assessed on vie 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 the master carriers.

A spirited protest regarding the atti•ide of the Otago Master Carriers' ssociation, represented by Mr. Ward, P., was earlier made by Mr. Stevens. Immediately after the hearing of the lirst 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, arid it is beginning to look• a^Jthdtiigh we might be here for the duration."

Mr.' Raines intimated that . cases would be disposed of. in the absence of applicants. , . . '