TRANSPORT SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 14

TRANSPORT SERVICES

OBTAINING MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY CO-OPERATION OF ALL CLASSES SOUGHT SUPPORT FROM DUNEDIN OPERATIVES About 300 town carriers and taxi operators were present in the Early Settlers’ Hall last night at a meeting convened to outline the Government’s requirements of the transport industry and the operation of the Transport Act Amendment Bill recently enacted. The procedure to bo adopted was briefly referred to in a similar letter from the general secretary of, the various New Zealand organisations (Mr H. J. Knight). This stated: “That transport control will be extended by the recently-passed Transport Licensing Amendment Act to town carriers and taxis, and certain auxiliary users, all of whom will immediately become subject to the transport licensing system. In so far as is necessary to give effect to' the Government’s policy, existing licenses, both goods and passenger, will be reviewed by the licensing authorities, and the new applications considered, with the object of licensing in each town or area Sufficient transport to provide the facilities required. The Commissioner of Transport has now been appointed Oil Fuel Controller. Transport co-ordination committees, consisting of a representative each of the Transport Department, Railway Department, _ and commercial motor transport, will he set up in each district, with a similar national committee.

“ The Government desires the cooperation of the industry in the reorganisation necessary, and the industry’s part is to plan the greatest possible degree of co-ordination, eliminate unnecessary running, and attain the most effective and efficient organisation and direction of transport. All such plans wil!_ be submitted to the licensing authority for approval before adoption.” The various bodies represented were:—New Zealand Carriers’ Federation (Inc.) —Messrs H. Campbell (Federation Office,‘Wellington), J. A. Henderson (Otago president), J. 11, Kirkwood (New "Zealand president); New Zealand' Road Transport Alliance (Inc.), Mr J. I. G._ Somerville; New Zealand Taxi Proprietors’ Federation (Inc.), Messrs A. Winders, W. O. Kempthorne; New Zealand Rental Car Proprietors’ Association (Inc.), Mr W. O’Fee; New Zealand Passenger Services’ Federation. (Inc.), Mr C. J. Morris; New-Zealand Omnibus Proprietors’ Association, Mr G. S. Kirby; No. 4 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr N. *E. Jory. Mr Henderson occupied the chair. AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT.

Mr Jory read a statement issued by the Minister of Transport (Hon. It. Semple) on September 15, which announced that the first step in the Government’s plan for organising road transport on a basis of maximum effi-

forms of public motor transport under a uniform system of national control, and ih© second the organisation and co-ordination, of all forces of public motor passenger and freight transport services. Representatives of various branches of public motor transport had already assured the Minister that they were ready and willing to offer the services of their organisations to the Government and of doing all in their power to make thq road transport industry fully efficient to meet the demands which may be required. “ The statement made by Mr Semple,” said Mr Campbell, “is the most important ever made by any Minister of Transport in New_ Zealand.” The recent amendment to the transport legislation brought the_ town carriers and taxi services ■ (previously exempt) under , the provisions of the Transport Licensing Act. This was the first step towards bringing a)l forms of motor transport under a uniform system of national control.

The second and most important step was. the organisation and co-ordination of all forms of public freight services ou the basis of maximum efficiency. Twenty-four hours after the outbreak of war representatives of all sections had been called in, and informed that a state of emergency existed in the transport world. • The maximum efficiency desired had to be found either by the co-operation of the services themselves or by other means. FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS. The Government was setting up district co-ordinating committees, whose functions would be to work out co-ordi-nated schemes amongst all classes of public motor services, there to be 12 in the North Island and nine in the South Island, boundaries to bo arranged between the committees and the district licensing authorities. , These committees would at onco consider schemes for the co-operation of _ area operations, town carriers, and taxi services in their districts. “I am here to acquaint operators with ’ the plan,”., said Mr Campbell. “ A series of similar meetings starts throughout New Zealand. Here in Dunedin is being held the most important first meeting.” Mr Campbell enlarged on various points in Mr Semple’s statement, and remarked that the Government’s desire to work in conjunction with the transport services was evident in the fact that on the first day of war the federation had been acquainted with the position, and .given a definite outline of what was required. Mr. Campbell believed that the industry’ was able to meet the requirements itself, and would co-operate with the Government ns desired. . If the industry accepted the desires of the Government it would have a say in what were the best things to do.

REASONS FOR REORGANISATION. There were various reasons for the reorganisation of the industry, the first being the ensuring of maximum efficiency of transport. Complete organisation was necessary to he ready to meet any changes which • might arise, without any disorganisation of the industry. There might possibly be radical changes, caused by the war, the petrol position, or by changes in trading conditions. The time_ might come when only essential services would be running.

The third reason was the conservation ot petrol, which could only be done by the elimination of waste! and over-running’. The Government had no wish to cut down the services at any time,- and would not do so if there was the required conservation of petrol consistent With efficiency. WAYS AND, MEANS. These things could bo done through the organisation of the industry into associations, said Mr Campbell; by the association in each district securing the maximum effort on its own initiative; by a district advisory committee dealing with' questions of transport, and public transport generally—particularly railways—with the industry fully represented on the .committee; and finally by a national organisation and coordinating committee—a national advisory committee. Finance for the run-, ning of these organisations was to be’ provided by each centre. The efficiency Within the industry could. be achieved through the efficiency of. the associations, and could bo_ achieved if the members themselves said it could bo done.

The speaker then enlarged on ways and means of obtaining that efficiency and said that freights would be fixed on it reasonable basis, every aspect of the industry being considered “Mr Semple was 100 (per cent, sincere in saying he believed that the industry can get on the basis of maximum efficiency and if we fail we have let him down 'as well as ourselves.” concluded Mr Campbell. A number of questions of a domestic nature were put to Mr Campbell at the close _of his address and were answered in detail. LOCAL RESOLUTIONS. After considerable discussion it was decided that there he two associations formed in the local district the District Carriers’ Association and the Taxi Operatives’ Association, and a full agreement was reached when the following motion was put:— “ That this meeting conveys to the Minister of Transport its appreciation of the confidence shown by him in the industry by_ his .consultation with it and Tiis belief that it can effect the desired reorganisation, and assures him of its complete co-operation.

Several nominations wore received for a representative on the National Adyistory Committee, tliesc names to go forward to the Minister of Transport who would select the one he considered most suitable.