CONSERVING PETROL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 218, 13 August 1940, Page 6

CONSERVING PETROL.

TRANSPORT CO-OPERATION,

AUTHORITY’S INDICATION,

“We are trying to get the transport industry generally to co-operate more than it has done in the past,” declared Mr J. P. 0. Skoglund (No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority), in opening a sitting at Palmerston North to-day, when he reviewed the licenses of the Apiti Co-op. Dairy Coy. and R. F. Churcher, of Apiti. “The object we are after is to conserve petrol,” he said. “These two licenses have been selected out of a number because they are representativee of what is really a route service from Feilding to Apiti',” said Mr Skoglund. “The reason is to try to get some degree of co-operation between the two operators. Each has two vehicle authorities, and 1 know that they had a meeting at Apiti and decided they were quite prepared to co-operate. I would like to know exactly what the operators have done.” Mr Skoglund advanced the question of whether it was necessary to use four vehicles and whether each operator could operate on three days a week. Mr C. E. Taylor (for the dairy company) said- an arrangement had been made for reciprocity on a load-for-load basis. The suggestion that the operators each should work on three days a week was inequitable. He suggested that the wastage of mileage between Feilding and Apiti was as negligible as anywhere in New Zealand.

Mr J. Graham (for Mr Churcher) stressed his client’s desire to co-oper-ate to the utmost, though he wanted to guard against his business being harmed. After further discussion the Authority reserved his decision on the matter, the solicitors for the respective parties to confer and submit a scheme for co-operation to Mr Skoglund. Subsequently, the Authority reviewed the license of Shortall’s Transport, Ltd., as being representative of 24 licenses affected, and reserved his decision.

Mr Skoglund pointed'out that the license at present covered the whole of the Rangitikei County and he was suggesting that the area be cut down to that covered by the tariff schedule. In the event of firms requiring to travel through Mangaweka special conditions might be required. Mr Skoglund advised that in future appeals against decisions of the Authority would require to be made within seven days of the date of notice of decision. He added that quite a number of operators had not sent in their financial returns for last year and asked that attention be given the matter.