NEED FOR ECONOMIES IN TRANSPORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 13 June 1942, Page 2

NEED FOR ECONOMIES IN TRANSPORT

[To the Editor]

Sir,—Attention has been drawn by the Nelson Farmers’ Union to the huge waste of petrol and tyres used by road transports operating along the 60 odd miles of railway in our district. In other centres restrictions have been imposed on road and bus transport. Here are a few of the economies in our centre: (1) Lorries still running NelsonInangab.ua and vice versa loaded and partly loaded. (2) A iorry runs Tadmor to Nelson loaded and returns empty. (3) A lorry runs 2 trips per day empty Nelson-Belgrove returning with timber. (<*) Lorries run odd trips TapaweraMotupiko to Richmond loaded, returning empty. (5) Three lorries run empty Brightwater to Murchison district, returning with coal for the factory at Brightwater. These are only a few of the everyday road transports seen on our main highways. Our railways have the trucks and equipment and could easily handle what is offering. Can one expect to see the line pay when it has had to take the cheap freignts and the road transport, the cream? We have a war on and this is not the time to delay but to act promptly. Here is an instance of economy that took place at Wakefield to-day. The train left Wakefield for Nelson at 8.55 a.m. Wake-fieid-Nelson bus 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. Murchison to Nelson bus at 10 a.rrf and another bus either before or after the latter from Tapawera. The three buses - mentioned contained about 12 passengers. 7 from Wakefield and the balance from south of Wakefield. Now

sir, the train can provide accommodation for at least 400 without any trouble. I see where the Suburban Bus Company have cut their time-table by 25 per cent, to 75 per cent, on different runs. It would appear that the Belgrove Wakefield-Nelson service could be cut the same especially when its times clash with the train times. I consider that this is a case for the War Council and I am sure our M.P. will appreciate these facts and bring same to the notice of those concerned, and acted upon if their slogan is "Save Petrol and Tyres” not “Waste."—l am, etc., ECONOMY. Wakefield, 12th June.