TOO MUCH OVERLAPPING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3895, 28 April 1937, Page 7

TOO MUCH OVERLAPPING

CARRIERS SHOULD CONFER. CARTAGE OF MILK AND BOBBY CALVES. At this morning’s local sitting of the Transport Licensing Authority Mr Walsh, for the Master Carriers’ Association, referred to what lie lermed the ridiculous overlapping of transport enterprises in the carriage of milk and bobby calves. He suggested that a conference should be held of those concerned with a view to eliminating some of the undesirable features.

Regarding the cartage of milk, Mr Walsh said the two largest carriers locally, Messrs Maxwell and Wilson and Mr Rowan, were in agreement that one operator would be sufficient cn several of the runs. He gave details where three or four are operating now. In a few cases two operators may be necessary. As to the bobby calf trade, Mr Walsh said there v%ere, in this district, eighteen operators with 51 trucks. Many firms were concerned, the carriers usually acting as agents or under instructions from agents of these firms. It was suggested that a zoning system could be evolved to make the business economic. A conference could do a lot towards the elimination of unnecessary work. Mr Phelan said it was a very important matter, and it was very necessary to effect reform if at all possible. At present the conditions were undesirable and uneconomic—not only in Te Awamutu district but throughout the Dominion. He hoped a zoning plan could be evolved, and a conference would have his full support and co-operation. He was prepared to associate himself with such a conference.

Continuing, the Authority asked if it was possible for the carrying firms named to confer this afternoon regarding carriage of milk, as a first step. Some solution of the problem was very important, for it would save thousands of pounds to the suppliers and operators. An example could be set to the whole Dominion.

Regarding the bobby calf trade, Mr Phelan said the overlapping and keen competition imposed serious wear and tear on the roads. The highways and side roads must, as a consequence, be torn to pieces and thus cause unnecessary expense to the local bodies and the ratepayers. Mr Phelan concluded with the re mark: "Get the operators together and I will talk to them with elimination cf overlapping in view.”