TRANSPORT QUESTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 263, 4 October 1940, Page 6

TRANSPORT QUESTION.

USE OF GAS PLANTS

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. “The use of producer gas plants by transport companies whose licenses are threatened will not be considered a reason for the continuation of the licenses,” said Hon. R. Semple in an interview. “The use of gas plants is being encouraged. The Transport Department has been making investigations into the design of a plant as it would not have ‘dud’ plants foisted on i.he public.” Asked if the U6e of a plant had been held to be no valid reason for the revocation of transport licenses. Air Semple said the carrying on of a license depended on the value of the service to the public. If the service were essential it would be encouraged, but a transport owner could not use a pro-ducer-gas plant as a reason wily he should receive differential treatment. “Producer gas is not going to be abused,” said Air Semple. “It is going to be used for the legitimate transport of the country.” The merger of transport concerns was not a war measure, he emphasised. It was the policy long before the war began, and if it was carried out there would be an additional saving of petrol during the war. He had tried his best to persuade the transport people to agree to this necessary regulated order without compulsion, and great savings had been effected in those areas in which mergers had taken place.