Prospect Of Big Transport Breakdown

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1949, Page 5

Prospect Of Big Transport Breakdown

TIMARU, Oct. 7. The prospect of a serious breakdown in the national transport system unless some agreement was reached by the various parties concerned over improvements to the main highways was forecast by thp president of the New Zealand Road Transport Allianee (Mr C. • Cassidy) in his address to delegates at the ooenin!? of the annual eonferenee in

J- o — Timaru today. The Allianee, he said, had to eontinue to press for more improvements to highways, effeetive loading of trucks and adequate rates. "A controversy has raged throughout past years," said Mr Cassidy. "With eonfliction of opinions from the Main Highways Board, Countv and Municipal Associations, Automobile and Industrial Transport Associations. The opinions remain widely divergent. ' ' I need not ' emphasise the essentiality of the road transport rsystems-jko this, fippntjry, '.'u he, eontinued. "The necessity for an adequate standard of highways is of such vital importance that an agreement must be reached as there is a serious rislt of a breakdown in our transport system. ' ' There seemed to be general agreement that the condition of roads and bridges was far below standard requirernenta, he eontinued. The issue was a simple one. With an inadequate standard of highway, transport operatora would have a light loading which would necessitate more trucks and labour with inereased tvre, fuel and repair costs. The community would have to pay in the form of substantially inereased eharges. The solution, he said, was to | provide highways capable of handling -maximum loads of existing vehicles. Work along these lines would provid* permanent highways, and keep transport costs at the lowest economic level. "From our industries' viewpoint, there is the heavy cost, which must be born by the community," said Mr Cassidy. "The fact is inescapable and it is our job to eonvince all concerned that it is better to spend the money wisely and not foolishly. In other words, spend it on the highways end. " Pixing rates was probably the most important faetor of all to the induBtry, he said. Fair rates calculated to provide adequate revenue were essential. There was mounting eoneern in the industry that the existing maehinery for fixing the rates was far from satisfactory.