Minister Orders Complete Pooling Of Road Traffic

Northern Advocate, 1 August 1940, Page 6

Minister Orders Complete Pooling Of Road Traffic

[Special to “Northern Advocate "l WELLINGTON, This Day. “Today there is no certainly regarding our future supplies of petrol and trucks.

“We must, therefore, conserve every possible gallon of petrol and nurse our existing trucks.

We cannot afford to. wait We must act now."

This is a preliminary to an announcement by the Minister for Transport (Mr Semple) of a further development in the rationalisation of the transport industry. “The Government's policy is broadly to have the goods carried by the railways in preference to motor trucks wherever this can be clone without seriously interfering with national production, and to see that each gallon of petrol used in motor trucks yields the greatest possible transport service,'’ said Mr Semple. Wasteful Duplication to Go. “Steps are being taken by the Oil Fuel Controller to eliminate wasteful duplication and overlapping among privately-owned trucks. “The owners of many of these trucks have co-operated by zoning and readjusting their delivery services, and substantial savings in petrol have been made. “It is proposed to transfer as much as possible of the general traffic carried in ancillary trucks to public carriers, that is, to carriers to ply for hire or reward. “This will be done wherever the transfer will show a saving in vehicle useage.” Tire Minister said the Government desired public carriers to reorganise themselves as a road transport system. The following methods could be adopted to bring about the necessary reorganisation:— Zoning of operations by voluntary arrangements. The formation of central depots for carriers in an area or town to arrange for all orders for cartage to be taken by a central office or agency. The formation of merger companies, under which carriers would cease to function as independent units and merge into one large-scale single unit. This involved the complete pooling' of traffic. Doesn’t Want to Dictate. It was suggested that specialised traffic, such as shingle and gravel operators, should make their own mergers. “I. do not want to assume the role of dictator, nor force any particular method of co-ordination on the industry, as I desire the carriers to work out their own plans,” said Mr Semple. “Where the industry finds any combination or variation of these suggested methods, or any other plan suitable to effect the desired result, such will be implemented, but I wish to make it clear that where no action is taken by the carriers, and it is apparent that action is desirable in the national interests, licensing authorities will utilise their powers under the Transport Act to secure the desired result. Dissenting Minorities, “I would also like to make it clear that, where a majority of carriers in a town or district have decided upon a suitable plan, the Government will not allow their efforts to be thwarted by a minority. “In these cases the dissenting minority will be required to come in and work with the majority. “Similarly, all transport users, including owners of ancillary vehicles, insofar as they are affected, will be required to conform to the approved plan.”

The operations of all individual tomi carriers would be carefully examined, and where they did not measure up to the required standard of efficiency the licenses would be revoked. Goods by Rail. “This section of the industry would then be in a position to co-ordinate into unifs of the most efficient practicable size. Must Act Now. “Carriers must realise the urgency, and in their own. as well as the national interest, must take action now,” added Mr Semple. “It will be too late to consider details and alternative proposals for rationalisation when the enemy is on our shores, or when petrol supplies are cut off.

“Adequate supplies of oil fuel must be reserved for the defence of the country, and the Government will not hesitate to take any steps which may be necessary to assure that every gallon of petrol is used to the maximum advantage.”