GOODS TRANSPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21548, 20 July 1933, Page 13

GOODS TRANSPORT

MOTOR FREIGHT RATES NO CONTROL FOR A YEAR COMMISSIONER'S ASSURANCE [liV TEI.EGKAni —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] CIIRISTCHURCH. Wednesday An assurance that tho Government did not at present intend to freight rates for goods transport by motor wa.i given by the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. .T. S. Hunter, at a meeting of those interested in tho regulations governing tho transport of goods in Canterbury. • Mr. Hunter said that the subject would bo carefully studied and tho advice of those engaged in tho industry would be sought before the question of freight rates was decided. Operators could lie sure that no rates would be fixed for at least a year and also that 110 annual inspection of vehicles was contemplated. At the same titno be emphasised that a condition attaching to every licence was that the vehicle should be maintained in good order and safe condition. Tho regulations had not been introduced, ho said, to bolster up tho railways. There was definitely no relationship between tho Railway and Transport Departments and tho Railway Department was in no moro favourable position to make representation to tho licensing authorities than were any other transport interests. The transport regulations had been gazetted in order to givo the Government an opportunity of studying thoroughly tho whole problem of transport and it was the department's wish that the regulations should come into operation with as little inconvenience to operators as possible.

No person in his senses would contend that tho railways wero an ideal means of transport for all commodities over all distances, continued Mr. Hunter. The road and tho rail each had its proper sphere and the department's job was to examine all available data so that tho sphere of each could bo defined. He thought that all would agree that transport was a key industry in need of control and that it should not be allowed to bo carried on under tho jungle law of the past.