Worried About

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31092, 22 June 1966, Page 14

Worried About

Fears that the British seamen’s strike may soon affect smaller carriers were expressed to the No. 9 Transport licensing Authority (Mr J. S. Haywood) at a sitting yesterday.

Counsel for the Christchurch Road and Transport Association (Mr J. A. Bretherton) said if the strike continued, it would become increasingly difficult for smaller operators, especially ownerdrivers, to find work.

Mr Bretherton said he was making sure that the application for five additional vehicle authorities, made by Port Carriers, Ltd., Christchurch, trading as Port Freighters, Christchurch, was fully supported. When granting the company four additional vehicle authorities, the Authority agreed that the strike would have some repercussions on smaller operators. An. application for the transfer of furniture rights, in respects of one vehicle authority, to Empire Express Company, Ltd., Christchurch, a subsidiary company, was allowed. The Authority also granted an extension of three vehicle authorities, for the carriage of household removals to and from anywhere in the North Island. The Authority granted transfers of continuous taxicab service licences from Ransome Albert Bowley, of 78 Gilberthorpes road, Christ-

church, to John James Burrows, Christchurch, and from Ivan Peter John Thompson, of 163 Styx Mill road. Christchurch. to Michael Acton, of Christchurch.

When allowing an application from Alan Desmond Ashwell, of 60 Britannia street, Christchurch, for a new continuous goods service licence, with one vehicle authority to operate in the South Island, the Authority reserved its decision for Otago and Southland, but will forward a recommendation to the authorities concerned, that the applition be granted. Ashwell, a scrap metal dealer, said in evidence that he travelled throughout the South Island buying scrap metal and it was uneconomic to freight non-ferrous metals by rail. He was allowed to carry a pay load not exceeding three tons. A new continuous goods service licence was granted to Independent Distributors, Ltd., 240 Armagh street,; Christchurch, for one vehicle authority and also a trailer. 1 The applicant company was exempted from rail restriction