CUTTING DOWN THE R.D. SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 198, 31 December 1941, Page 4

CUTTING DOWN THE R.D. SERVICE

WORD has been received in. Whakatane that the Oil Fuel Controller, through the Chief Postmaster, has ordered the drastic curtailment of the R.D. Services which have for so long ensured a daily delivery to dwellers in rural areas. The order is to cut the present service in half replacing the daily round with a tri-weekly one, in order to conserve petrol. It would appear that the authorities have once again failed completely to appreciate the conditions as they apply to country districts. The restrictions, as they have affected* to urban areas are understandable and fair in view of the other means of transport available, but where the only existing service is cut in half the result is going to be serious, and will probably lead to a greater use of petrol by individuals than before. Thus the measure will be defeating its own object. Since the withdrawal of trade vehicles from the country run owing to the restricted use of fuel, the R.D. vans have been regarded as the only means of a daily service to. farmers who live any distance from town. They have during the past carried meat, bread,, groceries, medicines, machinery parts and practically all other farm and household requisites which may be needed at short notice. The curtailment, is going to bring about much undue hardship to the whole of the hard.-pressed farming community, which already has difficulties enough without the addition of special trips into town for urgently , .needed foodstuffs, or equipment parts which are vital to industry and production. We have no hesitation in echoing the feelings of all who are affected by the change, and to urge upon the powers that be the very serious need for reconsideration.