CORRESPONDENCE TOWN CARRIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 265, 9 October 1939, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

TOWN CARRIERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Would you kindly allow mo space to place the position of tlie town carriers and area license holders before the public. The licenses were issued in the past by the City Councils. That system now ceases to exist, and we are under tlie control ol the Government as lar as licenses are concerned. Since the Government became tlie sole licensing authority they have notified the carriers that it is necessary for all of them to form themselves into a company, and ll they do not, the Government will step in and do the job. This decree has been issued through Mr McDowell, secretary of the iload Alliance. 1 understand one of the suggestions put forward is to get an assessor or valulator to value all carriers’ plants, and on this basis will lie determined the shares held by each carrier in the company. In other words the truck or trucks will lie the property of the company, leaving the owner working for a weekly wage, with the hope of a dividend at the end of the year.

Some might say that the system should work alright. Let us examine it. Many of us have worked up a business after years of hard toil, coupled with good service. We arc now asked to form' our truck business into a company, and, might I add, one carrying firm in this city would have about 30 trucks in that company as against the one or two truck carriers. All work is to be given from a central office. The carrier who has his regular customers to-day would lose them liecausc of the fact that all business would he done through the central office. Tn other words, he loses his individuality; he is only working for wages, with the hope of a dividend at the end of .the year; that- is; if the Government does not collar the let in taxation. And, might I add, if a carrier is not capable of doing a job allotted to him he can he dismissed by the management committee, and having no legal claim on the plant he put into the company, for that is his share in the company. Mr Business Man. we appeal to you; give us a hand in this fight; we have served you well in the past; we have also patronised you for motor spirit, tyres, oils, etc. That will cease if this scheme is enforced. It is up to you to help us. Mr Farmer, we also appeal to you to assist us. You can do it. Just as the cry arose from the throats of our kith and kin on the battlefields of France and Flanders, “Come ever and help us,” so we appeal to you for help in this fight for freedom. We have done our best for you in tlie past —no hour too late, no hour too early, to serve you when the P' cessity arose. I believe we will get your assistance, and we will win the day.—l am, etc., G. C. RICHARDSON, 464 College Street, 9-10-39.