STATE CONTROL OF GOODS SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 23288, 26 August 1937, Page 11

STATE CONTROL OF GOODS SERVICES

FEW OFFERS LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, August 25. Following the purchase by the Government of the passenger transport business at Rotorua conducted by K Motors Limited it is anticipated that several other passenger and goods services for many years conducted as a private enterprise will soon pass into the control of the State. In these cases, however, it is understood that negotiations are as yet uncompleted, but in at least one instance it is considered possible that an announcement will be made within a few days. While passenger services are dealing directly with the Railways Department a more involved procedure is being followed in the case of nine goods services which are affected in the Auckland district. Spares and equipment are examined by officers from the Transport Department, following which the books ate investigated by the Treasury Department, tasks which occupy several weeks in the case of large businesses. An offer to operators is then made by the purchasing officers, but it is understood that few of these are likely to be accepted and the majority of firms will take advantage of the opportunity of having their cases heard by the special Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Government.