TRANSPORT CHARGES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18252, 22 November 1933, Page 8

TRANSPORT CHARGES

POVERTY BAY SCALE AN OPINION CHALLENGED MR. LOGAN STANDS FIRM In the course of this morning’s sitting of the No. 4 District Transport Licensing Authority at tiishorne the matter ut’ charges for goods transport in Poverty Bay was (nought up I>y Air D. E. Chrisp on helm If of the master carriers of the district, his reference, 'being to a statement made by the chairman of the authority yesterday, ami published in last evening’s issue of the Herald. The opinion of the authority, as quoted in that statement, was unfavorable to the scale of charges operating in the district, by arrangement among the master carriers, and Air. Chrisp sought to convince the chairman of the authority, Air. F. B. Logan, that in making such a statement prior to a discussion with the master carriers, he had placed the latter at a great disadvantage. Some time ago, Mr. Chrisp pointed out, the authority had indicated that it would not be dealing with charges for goods services during the present year, according to the appearance of the list of business to be dealt with. The master carriers had been in conference on the matter of charges in the meantime, and had consulted representatives of the farmers in drawing up the scale. They had also been in communication with the Commissioner of Transport, who hail stated that in his opinion it was ideal for the master carriers to fix their own charges. ]n view of these circumstances, the master carriers felt that the authority had acted -prematurely in making the statement published yesterday, indicating that the charges fixed were too high, and would be reviewed.

Mr. Logan pointed out to Air. Chrisp that the statement regarding the discussion of charges this year had been qualified, to the effect that only where charges were considered too high would they lie dealt with. Mr. Logan added that he had expected this matter to be brought up again to-morrow, when the question of goods service charges was to he discussed.

In j-eply, Air. Chrisp stated that he had no alternative but to make the earliest reference to the subject, since the authority had made a public pronouncement on it. in the manner to which he referred. He proceeded to outline some of the difficulties experienced in the transport business in this district, and asked that the master carriers be spared the usual comparison of their charges with those operating in Hawke’s Bay, where conditions were entirely different. Air. Chrisp added that ho did not know of one carrier in the district who had made a reasonable working profit for last season. The chairman of the authority commented that this seemed strange, in view of the figures which the authority had received. The carriers had submitted their figures relating to charges and expenses, and it was on these figures that he and his colleagues had framed their opinion, as expressed yesterday. “We have all their figures before us,” said Air. Logan, “and we are perfectly satisfied that the new scale of charges is in some respects too high.” Mr. Chrisp intimated to the chairman that in view of the attitude of the authority, he was quito certain that the time allowed him for preparing a review of the master carriers’ case was inadequate. Ho mentioned one or two of the considerations to lie taken into account, and referred to rumors of certain actions of the licensing authority. The reference to rumors was taken up by the chairman with keen resentment, Air. Logan remarking that this authority had had a most unfair deal in this district almost from the outset of its work, and that statements had been made which lie hoped to have an opportunity of following up during the current sitting at Gisborne.

The discussion having arisen in the course of a hearing of an application for a license, the chairman asked that it- lie held over for the meantime, Air. Chrisp agreeing, with the observation that- ho had felt compelled to take the matter up at the first opportunity following the publication of the authority’s views.