THE FARMER AND MOTOR LORRY SERVICES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 August 1924, Page 5

THE FARMER AND MOTOR LORRY SERVICES.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —According to your report of the last meeting of the Hawera County Council, the Highways Board is circularising the various county, councils setting out proposed regulations and license fees. From the report we are led to believe that the annual license fees will be exceedingly heavy. , Several weeks back the Public Works Minister (Mr. Coates), who is also. Minister of Railways, openly stated his intention to kill motor lorry traffic as it was hitting the railway traffic. The whole of Taranaki is vitally concerned in this matter, and it is time the Taranaki farmers bestirred themselves to protest before it is too late. Any increased charges in the way of license fees must of necessity be paid by the farmers, as the lorries, in the main, do not serve- the towns. The charges now' made by the various motor lorry concern*! in Taranaki are made lower than those made anywhere else in New Zealand. So far as we know', not one motor concern has been consulted or advised re the increased rates, and no motoring body or concern has been able to obtain a copy of the proposed Highways Bill. The county councils have the matter in their own hands: the farmers have their representatives on those councils; and 7iow is the time for the fanners to look to their welfare. If no' protest is made, and the proposed charges become law, then, the farmers will have to foot the bill. It is only natural that the increase in license fees will be passed on to the farmers, as the motoring concerns cannot bear them. And if the PublicWorks Minister succeeds in driving, by harsh regulation, motor lorry traffic off the roads altogether, how is the fanner to obtain delivery of his manures, slag,. etc. ? The various dairy companies in Taranaki are vitally interested in the matter, but so far we have not seen one protest.—We are, etc., THE GENERAL TRANSPORT COMPANY, LTD.