TRANSPORT REGULATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 110, 12 May 1933, Page 4

TRANSPORT REGULATION

COMMISSIONER EXPLAINS ROAD SERVICE FOR FARMERS ADEQUATE FACILITIES Farmers and carriers were addressed by Air J. S. Hunter, Commissioner uf Transport, •concerning the new transport regulations yesterday afternoon. Ho explained their justification and effect, and answered questions. He gave an assurance that' adequate road transport would be provided farmers for their fat lambs and said that it was not intended that a man living within five miles of a railway station should be stopped from sending stock to a city by lorry.

Mr T. Currie, president of the Wanganui Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, presided, and among those present were Air A. Stuart, ALP., and Air W. Alorrison, chairman of the Waitotara County Council. There was a large number present. Air Hunter said that, a good deal of thought and attention had been given to the drafting of the requirements in order that tho least possible hardship might be given to operators, at the same time remembering that tho primary consideration was the shifting of the commodities from farm to port and port to farm. Reports that the series of hardships would be involved by the regulations had been heard with some surprise. Nothing was further from the mind of the Government than to short circuit facilities. The Act had boon designed to allow a traditional period to enable enquiry into tho requirements of every district before the effect of the licensing was brought into operation at some later date. The regulations had been drawn up to provide no more interferences with operators than there was to-day. All operators in tho district, particularly those in operation when tho Act was passed, would bo entitled to automatic licenses and it was the intention of tho Government to see that there was no disorganisation occurred and that adequate transport facilities would be available until tho question of coordination could bo explored. Transport for Lambs. Judging from questions asked at Taihnpe and Alarton, tho most important one seemed to centre round the carriage of fat lambs and other goods of that category. Ho could assure them that they would have the adequate road transport facilities for their lamb* that they had had in the past and at the present time. There was no intention, as far as the Act was concerned, to utilise the powers invested by Parliament to divert traffic to the railway in an unreasonable manner. Tho Act was not for tl»o purpose of bolstering up tho railways but to bring about an investigation that wluld utilise in an intelligent way tho numerous amount of transport equipment in the country, as it was known that the capital expenditure had been duplicated and triplicated. It was no news to say that tho national income from production had decreased. Even before that decrease had taken place the capital which was invested in transport, much of which was a national liability, was going ahead in a greater ratio than it was in the country’s capacity to pay for. Before tho drop in prices a stage had been reached where the annual cost of transport was running into £35 for every £.lOO represented in production. With the drop in prices realised, the annual cost had increased to £4O for every £lOO. Such a stato of affairs would immediately appeal as a very serious problem and one requiring something in tho nature of specialised machinery to deal with. He had also seen reports that tho now regulations were just another phase of Government interference with business. Air Hunter said that it was legislation of that kind but ho did not admit that it was in the same •category with the expression usually accepted by the man in tho street. Transport was an entirely different matter from the ither business. The justification for the regulations had been admitted in 1931 when the legislation had been passed. It provided scope for a reduction in the overhead cost of transport. The Act was the same as that which was provided for in Great Britain after an enquiry had been held for two years into the situation while its principles had also been in operation in tho, United States since 1917. The New Zealand Act applied to pas songcr services with tho power to bring in tho same requirements and modifications to goods services at a date to bo fixed. There wns no question of Government in Council, but Parliament had laid down definite principles to be exercised. Effect of Regulations Dealing briefly with the regulations. Air Hunter said that those who had been operating for some years would bo allowed to carry on for another year before their service was reviewed by tho Authority granting licenses Farmers and others carrying their own goods would not bo subject to tho provisions of the Act in any way. Goods services operating entirely within the borough or for a distance outside the boroughs on the main highways would bo free but. any service operating over five miles from tho borough would be required to license under tho Act. The authority for tho district to grant licenses would be tho same as that which dealt with tho passenger services, tho No. 5 District L eensing Authority, ai:d its sittings world oner facilities for hearing every r*irtv or organisation that was interested in gaining a license. With regard to tho goods services operating over fixed routes between, say. Wanganui and Hawera, Alarton and Palmerston North, operators could apply for and obtain licenses to apply for hire between two points. If, having operated for a long period and if their services were justified, an automatic license would be granted. General carriers in tho district would make application to be given tho right to carry on their services as at the present time, which would indicate that so far as the producer was concerned he would have the same services to call upon as at present. If past experience showed that tho service was inadequate in an area, sufficient elasticity would enable outside assistance to be obtained by temporary or seasonal licenses. Questions Answered. Air W. Alorrison: It has boon said that fat lambs 30 or 40 miles from Wanganui. which are now brought to the works by lorry will have to be un- 1

loaded nt the nearest railway station, and sent in bv rail. Wo want an assurance that this will not bo done. Mr Hunter: It will not be done. Mr Alorrison: Will any man living within five miles of a station bo unable to send his stock by lorry f Air Hunter: Buch is not signified in tho Avt and was never intended to be. In reply to Mr Morrison as to what tho procedure would bo for a carrier carting metal at intervals for a county council, Air Hunter said that adequate facilities would be available for temporary licenses. Tho representative of a grocery firm said that goods wore delivered into country districts on two days a week outside tho specified area. Would it bo necessary to have a license f he asked, adding that tho firm was carrying its own goods and delivering them in their own lorry. Air Hunter said no license would he necessary. At tho present time the Act was not intended to cover such services as they were in tho same posttion as a farmer owning his own lorry j and carrying his own goods. V Air A. P. Melville, referring to the x Fordoll and ATangamahu districts, asked whether a mail carrier would be restricted from carrying passengers. Air Hunter pointed out that a license | to conduct a service carrying mails and passengers had boon granted the day previously by the No. 5 Licensing Authority. In reply to Afr Stuart he said that no exacting regulations as to the build of a vehicle carrying out a passengermail service would bo imposed. Several questions were asked Mr Hunter after which ha said that, he would bo pleased to meet anv carriers or others who wished to ask him fol in formation. Mr Currie and Mr Stuart, both thanked Air Hunter for his address and explanations, which they said were entirely satisfactory.