GOOD'S TRAIN STOPS TO BE CUT DOWN Road Transporters To Have Bigger Opportunities

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1949, Page 5

GOOD'S TRAIN STOPS TO BE CUT DOWN Road Transporters To Have Bigger Opportunities

P.A. TIMARU, October 10. The possibility of the Railway’s Department reducing the number of uneconomical stops made by the goods trains, but cutting down on flag station halts, was mentioned at a conference of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance in Timaru to-day. An experimental service, with the road and rail service co-ordinated, is proposed for the North Canterbury line with Lincoln as the railhead. Delegates protested at an alleged practice of the aßilways' Department of attempting to have extensions granted to goods service .licenses without coming before a public hearing.

“The time has now come when w a must take a definite stand in regard to the Railways Department,” said Mr F. J. Townsend (G° re L “I can see the writing on the wall —our sphere of operation is already being cut down, and on every side the Railways Department is endeavouring to seek exemption for itself from tho shed to shed basis of carting. It is trying to set down goods at other points not served by the carter’s end.”

Mi' Townsend asked that strong representations be made to get a definite understanding, of the sphere of operation of transport operators laid down by' the National Transportation Co-ordination Council. A letter from the acting General Manager of Railways, Mr E. H. Langford) was referred to by’ the secretary (Mr H. J. Knight), who said that, after a meeting with Alliance representatives, Mr Langford agreed that some co-ordination between the railways and private operators con-’ corning haulage to flag stations would be a good thing. The department hoped, at a later date to reduce the use of flag stations to a minimum. At present it envisaged that local carriers would deliver all consignments of two tons or under from larger railheads to country’ areas. A fair amount of adjustment in the rates would be required. The proposal was still in the experimental stages.

It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Alliance executive.

Mr F. G. Sheed (Timaru) was appointed president for the ensuing year. It was decided that the next conference should be held in Waikato. The following were elected to the Dominion Council: Messrs V. E. Le *Prou (Taumarunui), W. Sirl (Whangarei), R. R. Curtis (Stratford), J. G. Somerville (Balclutha), P. J. Smith (Wanganui), J. A. Anderson (Mercer) R. D. Chapman (Martinborough). F. J. Townsend (Gove), W. D. Thompson (Waikaxo), A. A. Heenan (Southland) N. B. Smith (Gosborne), W. A. Habguod (Lincoln), L. J. Butler (Matamata), J. B. Cullen (Ashburton), J. W. Green hill (West Coast). The retiring president, (Mr Cv Cassidy) was made a member of the council.