LITTLE TRANSPORT WORK AVAILABLE FOR P.W.D. OPERATORS

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 September 1946, Page 6

LITTLE TRANSPORT WORK AVAILABLE FOR P.W.D. OPERATORS

“It is questionable whether returned soldiers should go to the expense of purchasing trucks for Public Works Department work at the present time,” said the No. 2 Transport Incensing Authority (Mr. J. P. O. Skoglund) at a sitting in Wanganui yesterday. “It would be running a very grave risk for any returned man to purchase a truck for that purpose without approaching the P.W.D.” Mr. E. W. F. Gohns, representing the Road Transport Alliance, said there was no scope for P.W.D. operators in the district at the present time and several were out of work. At one stage eight operators were engaged on road work at Todd’s Corner, on the Wanganui-Raetihi highway, but six of them had been put off. The only reason why the other two were retained was because they transported workers from Wanganui to the job and back to the city. “It will be some time before any more trucks are required on this job, and tjien they will be needed only for metalling,” Mr. Gohns added. The P.W.D. was also undertaking work at Ore Ore. six miles below Raetihi, and he was originally advised (hat 20 trucks would be required, said Mr. Gohns. This number had since been reduced, however, to 10 or 12. Six trucks were now working there, but some time would elapse before any more were required.

“It is a fallacy for ex-servicemen to be deluded with the idea that they will pick up work as soon as they get these licences,” said Mr. Gohns. “Before the licences are granted we should have representatives of the P.W.D. here to say whether work is available, and whether it is necessary for these licences to be issued.” The Authority said he would reserve decision in these applications till the position was investigated. Returned men would be given preference. but. the Authority did not want to see these men rushing headlong into such schemes and purchasing trucks if work would not be available for them.