EXPRESSMEN'S PRIVILEGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 938, 4 October 1910, Page 4

EXPRESSMEN'S PRIVILEGES.

LUGGAGE CHECKING AND COUPONS.

The privileges alleged to have been conf red ohtheNew Zealand". Espress/Co. by ithe ■contract let the Eailway Department: for .the 'checking of ;iiiggage through from : the Lyttelton ferry steamers.'.to'.'the two railway:-,stations*and' vice versa, were .the:subject.'pfja''deputation to the -for ■ Railways yesterday from .the Express Drivers' Union.../..: • Mr.' A. L.-Herdm'aii, M-P./who intro-: duced the deputation, said:.he::understobd that, when tenders were.called* for the contract, - the expressmen were; of that<:thevcontractor-. was;:td','.check;;the luggage : to 'or. -.ffom : the., wharf :to.■ the., railway stations.■■,•;He was told'by the'd&<' nutation... that tho.company:, did snot con-::' fine its operations to the terry-:boats and stations, but ■ ostended";it'''to.; hbtele,-pri-vate/'dwellings, etc.,/,and'-in; addition::to; the check gave a : coupon'' for: ; thevticket on the-railways.- The carriers,"did.inot think this waa'fair-.to them,\and. it .was injuring their business. , /\ '.'-'■.-, ' ' Mr. E: A. u .Wright,'..M.P.,- pointed .out that it seemed that the Department, m> advertently and with the best/intentions, was' creating a monopoly.:::/With-..the terms' they conld: offer,:'.it looked as. though it wae.only a' matter:of■ time 'and the whole, of the busines's would-go'into: the hands of the one company.';:/ : ; ; /; ■;:.;; ;^ 'Mr. J. /Curtis said- he.would likevhis firm'to be placed on.the samebasis as. the Express ■Company, and. so enable;themto ; issue/coupons. -. :;■''/.', .'.'■ - : : ■' ■■■'■'?'■!■' ::The Minister: "If you pay Jor,the.railway ticket, the :sainß .as- they .do, you canhaye it." Continuing;/'the 'Minister., feiid-the other carriers could enlarge their businesses to-morrow,, if they liked. .OutSide'of the tenders called' fory there_ :was no contract with: the Department. Tenders hod :been pnblicly invited for'- the carriage of luggage between the railway ! Stations and the ferry steamers, and vicu versa, and the ; lowest . tender, /that of the New Zealand Express-Co;,/had beuii, accepted. 'This Sras the only contract there was with the' Eailway Department. The checking of luggage; from houses had .nothing,to do with the Department. This was entirely ■ a business '-■ arra'ngoment ■of the Express Company's. /He: had no 'intention of creating a monopoly, and would be prepared to have/an agreement drawn: up giving the carriers- equal rights /with the Express Company in regard to coupon books if' they, were, prepared-to/.tako equal responsibility. -' : : Ho would /send' .instructions to tho general manager, of railways, that any application similar to that of the Express Company should , be granted, but tie Department: must be assurod of the financial stability of the applicant: • .. -.- !. ; '::/,.