ROAD TRANSPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 172, 23 July 1942, Page 6

ROAD TRANSPORT

SERVICES REVIEWED

COMMENT BY AUTHORITY

With the object of conserving rubber and petrol supplies, a number of road transport services in the Auckland district were reviewed by the No. 1 Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan, at a sitting this morning. , . Mr. Phelan said the regulations were going to hurt people, but the authorities felt that the object in view was sufficient to warrant them acting as proposed. He expressed appreciation of the manner in which operators had helped the authorities. Each and everyone seemed to realise that the first objective was the winning of the war. Mr. Phelan said that he was most anxious that effect should be given to me requirements of the Government with the least inconvenience to operators. Reorganisation Necessary Mr. R. H. Nicholls, who appeared on behalf of the Transport Department, said that the Minister had pointed out that very drastic reorganisation and reduction would be necessary if services were to be kept on the road for any length of time. . , In connection with a fruit delivery service from Auckland to Hamilton, operated by Turners & Growers, Ltd., Mr. Harvey Turner said his company realised the grave position the country was in to-day, and was prepared to sacrifice the service. At the same time, he appealed to the railways to carry the goods which the firm sent by road. He asked that the license be suspended with a proviso that the firm be allowed to make ten trips between now and the end of the year. He hoped that his firm would not be penalised later on because people were allowed to tear round the country using up tyres and petrol. The authority said that he thought the railway would run an effective service. If it could not he was prepared to review the matter. Anything which was done now would not revoke the lecense but would only suspend it. Racing a Source of Revenue Asked whether racing had been declared essential, an operator of a horse-transport service stated that racing was a source of revenue to the Government. The railway could carry horses but could not provide service to the same extent as that provided by motor transport. In connection with a fish-delivery service to Hamilton, Mr. M. A. Decich, manager of the Waitemata Fisheries, said that the railway could not satisfactorily cope with the problem of delivery. His firm used to deliver to Hamilton four times a week, but had cut the service down to twice a week in order to conserve tyres.

Mr. G. S. Reid, r v Tict traffic manager of the Raih.ay Department, stated that consignments of fish were sent by the railway to all parts of the North Island.

The authority reserved his decision in connection with the various services reviewed.