TRANSPORT ECONOMIES

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 14

TRANSPORT ECONOMIES

TRAFFIC DIVERTED TO RAILWAYS SUSPENSION OF SOME ROAD SERVICES SAVING OF PETROL (Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 26. Heavy economies in tho transport industry as an emergency measure were announced to-day by Mr T. H. Langford, licensing authority for tho Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland district. Numerous services will be suspended or restricted, and a large volume of traffic diverted to the railways. To save petrol, the Railway Department itself will abandon all its road goods services in this district from next Monday until tho war ends. Though with similar economies adopted in other sections of the transport industry there will be many men who lose their present jobs, it is expected that other positions will be found for them. Many of the trucks it is intended to divert to defence purposes. CO-OPERATION OF INDUSTRY. Announcing these measures, Mr Langford said that they were being taken with the full co-operation of the transport industry. It would be understood that in the present emergency economy in the use of petrol was essential, although the Government had said that tho transport industry would be the last to lose its petrol. It was also desired that the industry should make whatever economies were possible, Mr Langford said he had reviewed tho situation with the full collaboration of the industry. There were two courses—diversion of traffic to the railways and further rationalisation of road services. This was a difficult job to undertake, but it had been made easier because of the willing co-opera-tion of those concerned. It meant that several parties would have their licenses suspended while the war lasted. They would undoubtedly lose through this, hut they had indicated their readiness to co-operate with the Government in any proposal directed to the conservation of national resources, and appreciation of their attitude was due to them. Every effort would bo made to find work elsewhere for the men who would inevitably lose their jobs. Abandonment of the Railway Department’s road goods services while the war lasted had been arranged in No. 3 district. He understood that it was under consideration in other districts also. LICENSES SUSPENDED. The first list of licenses to be suspended or restricted, for the duration of the war is as follows: Rink Taxis Ltd.—Suspension of the right to carry general goods on the Christchurch-Parnassus section of the Christchurch-Kaikoura route. Effective from October 2. Ashburton Transport Company Ltd. —Suspension of the right to carry general goods on the routes Ashbur-ton-Christchurch and AshburtonTimaru. Two vehicle authorities for the Ashburton County will also be suspended. Effective from October 3. Mrs E. E. P. Williams.—Suspension of the right to carry general goods on the Eastern Bays-Christchurch route. Effective from September 26, J. G. Hamer.—'The right to carry general goods on the route Christ-church-Kowhai Bush restricted to Tuesdays and Fridays only. Effective from October 3. . Estate of J. Durie. The right to carry general goods on tho route Woodend-Amberley, ' via Sefton-Bal-cairn and Lcithfield. restricted to tho carriage of goods on tho route Wood-end-Leithfield direct on Tuesdays. Thursdays, and Saturdays. Effective from September 30. • .... Smart and Sons Ltd.—Restrictions on the Christchurch-Methven and Christchurch-Oxford routes.