FREIGHT SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23353, 19 November 1937, Page 4

FREIGHT SERVICES

POLICY OF SINGLE OWNERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH FIFTY-FOUR OPERATORS (Frojvi Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. “Investigations carried out during the year showed that there is room for a considerable measure of coordination between the long-distance road-and-rail freight services. 1 Owing, however, to the difficulties of securing co-ordination while the road services are operated in small units, a policy of single ownership, whereby certain road services would be taken over by the State and operated by the Railways Department, was adopted.” This statement is contained in the annual report of the Transport Department, which was presented in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple). “To bring this policy into effect, the report continues, “two purchase offi-

cers, with an investigating accountant and three officers experienced in the operation of motor vehicles to assist them, have been appointed to negotiate with the road operators for the taking over of their services. These officers will report the results of their negotiations to a special tribunal appointed under the Transport Licensing Amendment Act. 1936. “ In cases where agreement has been reached between the purchasing officers and the operators, the tribunal will consider their report and submit its recommendations to Cabinet through the Minister of Transport. In cases where agreement is not reached, the tribunal will hear both parties at public sittings and report its findings to the Minister. “ Negotiations are at present in train with 54 operators —nine in the No. 1 District, 29 in the No. 2, seven in the No. 3, and nine in the No. 4 District. Nearly all these carriers are operating over routes in excess of 50 miles in direct competition with the railways and hold between them 197 vehicle authorities.” The number of appeals made against the decisions of Licensing Authorities total 44. In nine of these cases, the appeal has been rejected, in 11 the decision has been modified, and in one the decision has been reversed, while 23 were under action when the statistics were compiled on March 31.