ROAD GOODS SERVICES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 433, 14 May 1937, Page 6

ROAD GOODS SERVICES

GOVERNMENT ACTION Farmers’ Union Fears Press Association—Copyright. Wellington*, May 13. Exception ♦(» the proposal of the Government to take over long-dis. tance road goods services was taken at >a meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. The fear was expressed that this was preliminary to the taking over of all forms of goodfc. transport and that the elimination of competition would not be conducive to efficiency. The Dominion president, Mr W W. Mulholland, stated -to.night that the executive had discussed the question of the Government assuming control of long-distance road goods services running alongside railways, and dele gates expressed grave concern for the effest of this proposal on the cost and the efficiency of transport. It was pointed out 'that the increased costs thiat would be brought about would fall almost entirely on rural districts, and particularly on the farming section. Delegates drew attention to the fact that the great advantage of motor transport was mobility in meeting the needs of transport under many different conditions. It wa s frequently abVe in country districts a little way removed from the railway to bring goods from the town to 'the door with only two handlings, instead of at least four handlings involved in combined road andi railway transport. Concern was? also expressed at the effect th e elimination of competition might have on the service given by the railways.