TRANSPORT BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3386, 28 October 1933, Page 7

TRANSPORT BOARD.

OPPOSITION TO METHODS. FARMERS' HAIRDSHIPS.

(By Telegraph. Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday.

The methods and actions of the Transport Board as they affect the relations of country carriers and the farmers were discussed at some length at the Dominion executive meeting of the N.Z. Farmers' Union yesterday. Mr A. P. Bruce, Mid-Canterbury, said that the Transport Board prevented free enterprise. Very few farmers in Canterbury possessed their own lorries, and he objected to the interference of the hoard with private contracts between the earner and the farmer. The present scheme, he considered, would defeat itself in the end. Every farmer would eventually have to buy his own lorry, and do'the busisess for himself.

"I am surprised at the acquiescence of the farmers in the imposition of this iniquity," said Mr W. W. Mulhollandj Canterbury. "I have urged them to take steps to resist it. The Transport Department is basing its policy on an entirely wrong conception of the problem. Only country districts are brought in under its regulations, and the only reason one can assign for such regulations is that bureaucracy has run mad. They contain startling possibilities for injustice.'.' Mr H. Morrison, Wairarapa, considered that each province should nominate a man to give evidence before the Licensing Corrtmittee and explain the farmers' position. This' had been done with satisfactory results in his own district. There was no doubt that transport was one of the major problems in New Zealand. Farmers should make a special study of it as it affected their own province. "These restrictions and regulations impose serious hardships on the farmer," said Mr H. E. Blythe, North Taranaki. "The only people being especially penalised are the rural community. Any saving to the nation that may have been effected has been at their cost." He moved that a circular on the subject be sent to the provincial executives with a view to gathering information so that a case for presentation to the Transport. Board might be prepared and considered at the next .meeting of the executive. After further information had been aciven in committee, the motion was carried unanimously.