“ WE THANK YOU ”

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3896, 30 April 1937, Page 5

“ WE THANK YOU ”

CARRIERS’ APPRECIATION EXPRESSED. TO LICENSING AUTHORITY. At the conclusion of the Te Awamutu sitting of the Transport Licensing Authority on Wednesday afternoon, Mr R. G. Andrew, secretary of the local Carriers’ Association, asked to be allowed to express the Association's views on certain aspects of the negotiations. Referring more particularly to rates for cartage, he said that it. was an accepted ruling that no

license is issued conditional on any / fixed charge arrived at. fie wanted to < make it clear that, the Association ' has no intention of exploiting the farmet, even though it was an actual fact that during the depression period carriage ot goods had been con,tinued at uneconomic rates. (Mr Phelan said that this was a fact conceded by all who had investigated the position.) Continuing, Mr Andrew said that times are better now, and it was felt that the carriers should share somewhat in that prosperity. Their representatives had met the Farmers’ Union in conference on the subject, and while the latter had agreed that increased costs were inevitable, they would not sign the new basis of charges, explaining that the refusal was because to do so would be tantamount to admitting that the guaranteed price was adequate to cover any stfch extra costs. The costs had been based, said Mr Andrew, on from 9d to lOd per ton mile, and he contrasted this with the recently published figure of Is arrived at by the Commission investigating the affairs of taxis and town carriers. The comparison shows that the local Carriers’ Association has been fair. Concluding, Mr Andrew said that all members of his association agreed that throughout the present sitting of the Transport Authority they had had a most impartial hearing. “We are more than satisfied, sir, and we have had a fair hearing. On our part we also have tried to be fair in our attitude towards all applications.” Mr Phelan said he was gratified to acknowledge the expressions of goodwill to his efforts. He was confident the farmers as a class would be. pleased to have the assurance that the Carriers’ Association will give them every opportunity to consult together before prices for cartage are raised. On this score it should be realised that if all interested parties approach the situation properly, an amicable agreement can be reached. He was associated with several local bodies, and had become convinced that the carriers much raise their cartage charges —or go out of business. So much so was this a recognised move that there would shortly be promulgated legislation to cover the position. But he would sound one word of warning. The carriers must not increase their rates unduly. He hoped that the farmers, businessmen and carriers would all get together to consider the needs of the industry. The carriers had given the farmers an assurance that rates would not be raised without fair time to consider such proposed increases. That was a right course to take.

As to the expressions of thanks voiced by Mr Andrew, Mr Phelan smilingly stated that he had always been somewhat suspicious when he was told that he had given full satisfaction. However, he was glad in the present case. He then paid a tribute to the legal profession for the great help afforded the Authority throughout the deliberations. The Authority was not trained in analysis like the legal minds; it merely tried to do the fair and right thing having regard to all the circumstances. The legal gentlemen had presented their cases clearly and were always willing to assist the Authority in steering the proper course. The various carriers’ organisations had also rendered considerable assistance. Continuing, Mr .Phelan said all carriers should join an association, so that recommendations could come to the Authority as representative of a united body. The co-ordination and goodwill so apparent during the session in Te Awamutu was worthy of the fullest support. The association could assist its members, and the outsiders were not acting in their best interests. He added that sooner or later the Government would have to attend to the fixation of prices. That was the only way that full consideration could be given to the subject. But meantime good results could be obtained from all operators joining an association and thus uniting to frame their own destinies.