ROAD TRANSPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 118, 15 November 1939, Page 5

ROAD TRANSPORT

NO FORCED MERGER

STATEMENT BY AUTHORITY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) .WANGANUI, November 14.

."To allay ..any fears that transport operators may have by reason of statements reported -to have been made by the Hon. Adam Hamilton in Pahiatua on November 11, I wish to make this statement," said Mr. P. Skoglund, No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority, when the authority held a public sitting in Wanganui today.

"Mr. Hamilton's statement having been made.in the No. 2 Authority's district,, the public might gain the impression that No. 2 Authority has been acting in a manner as stated by Mr. Hamilton, who is reported as saying that the operators have been forced off the road without compensation," Mr. Skoglund continued. "No operators have been forced ✓Off tne road in the No. 2 district in the circumstances mentioned by Mr. Hamilton. "Mr. Hamilton is als^. reported as having said that operators are being bluntly told that, unless they agree to combine with other interests and sink their individuality and independence, I they will have their licences cancelled, j In so far as No. 2 district is con-j cerned, this statement is entirely incorrect. If any operators in No. 2 district merge their interests, it will be entirely on a voluntary basis. The only degree of compulsion used will be in the direction of requiring carriers to join their appropriate associations. This action is being taken in the interests of carriers themselves, and in the hope that co-operation may be achieved. .•*:-..-. "Mr. Hamilton is also-reported as having said that the Government's policy is definitely in the direction of wiping out individual .private transport interests so as~ to give the industry over to transport monopplies, ultimately to become a State monopoly. In this connection both the-Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport have stated publicly that it is not the intention of the Government to nationalise road "transport. With implicit faith in the statements of the Ministers concerned, the policy of No. 2 Authority is directed accordingly," Mr. Skoglund said. "Another, matter to which I wish to refer is a reported resolution by farmers in Dannevirke some weeks ago when they objected to the compulsory merging of carrying interests in Southern Hawke's Bay. I can only repeat that nowhere in' No. 2 district are carriers compelled to merge their interests, noi> will No. 2 Authority of any compulsion being used in this direction."