GOODS TRANSPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18929, 26 April 1933, Page 3

GOODS TRANSPORT.

THE NEW REGULATIONS. EXTENSION OF AREA WANTED. LOCAL CARRIERS’ DECISION. The Hamilton Carriers’ Association has decided to request that .the exempted area for Hamilton under thenew goods transport -regulations should be extended from a five-miles to a 15mlles radius of the borough. A' special meeting of the association was held on Saturday morning to receive -the report of the executive regarding an interview with Mr J. S. Hunter, -Commissioner of Transport and a carriers’, deputation.

Mr F. H. Clapham, the chairman, who headed the deputation, reported that Mr Hunter gave .them every indication that he was prepared to help the carriers In every possible way, as he had stated that If the majority of carriers in any district proved to him that the regulations were a hardship he would use his influence with the ■Minister of Transport to have amendments and alterations made to the •regulations and anomalies would be rectified.

Mr Hunter stated that he was quite prepared to reoommend an extension of the.exempted area to 15 miles, hut he requested the carriers to seriously consider the disadvantages. His contention was that the larger the exempted area the more competition they •would have to oontend with. For instance, if they had a special exempted area of 15 miles radius from Hamilton that area would connect with the exempted areas around Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Morrinisvllle, and Ngaruawahla, resulting in unrestricted competition because carriers in that wide circle of about 50 miles radius would not have to apply for licenses under these new regulations. Furthermore, those carriers holding speoial route or area licenses ‘covering long distances would he competing with local carriers in that they would be permitted bo pick up or deliver goods In the towns en route within the exempted areas, and the Transport Board would be powerless to restrict in this area the operations of those holding definite route or area licenses. The Commissioner had stressed the point that the Licensing .Committee would treat each application on its merits. Therefore, those who oould prove from past records .that the goods service was necessary would be granted the licenses. Mr Clapham stated that he was prepared to hold the matter In abeyance until .the carriers of the distrlot had been given another opportunity to discuss the matter.

Mr Hunter had pointed out that as compared with Hamilton carriers In Gisborne, Wairarapa, and Canterbury towns were of opinion that they would receive more protection if those towns were not classed as exempted areas, and they had requested him to have those districts excluded from the exempted areas. This would make It necessary for every carrier In, those districts to possess either an area license or a route -license and naturally those already in business would be in the position to oppose any applications from newcomers, and the Licensing Authority would thus be able to act for carriers in much the same way as the authority did for protected passenger services. Mr Jebson could not see .that they could have more competition than at the present time, when the area was unlimited. They had the protection ■of “ply for hire” licenses issued by the Hamilton Borough Council, which limited the number of vehicles carrying goods within the borough, as outside firms could not engage in that class of business without the council's authority. With a restriction to 15 miles radius of Hamilton commonsense would cause would-be competitors to hesitate engaging in this class of business. Mr J. Jebson stated that ho had pointed out to the Commissioner that one question on application forms dealt with the Insurance of goods carried against fire and accident. It was possible to insure goods in transit against fire, but for over 10 years he had tried without success to secure cover, against breakages by accident. Mr Hunter had promised to lock into ■the matter and find out whether the State would be prepared to accept these risks. Schedule of Charges. Mr A. Burn said he felt sure that at present the .statistics required were to be the basis of future carrying charges. A schedule of charges would be a good thing for the carriers themselves, as many of them were under-charging with disastrous results not only to the individual but to carriers generally. Several speakers drew attention to the competition by small parcel taxi services in legitimate carrying business. They were not only plying for hire within the borough but had been seen at Mercer, Taupo and other places with heavy loads. Mr Gower considered that it would be better to have a -straight-out Limit of 15 miles than to have to waste time securing a license any time a carrier had occasion to go outside the exempted area. Mr \ McLaren stated that next year -the regulations might be altered to cover a smaller exempted area, therefore Hamilton 'Should secure a bigger area now which would -save expense to many carriers meantime. After further discussion a resolution that the exempted area should be extended to a J 5-miles radius of Hamilton was carried by a big majority.