N.Z. ROAD TRANSPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 10

N.Z. ROAD TRANSPORT

SUSPENDED SERVICES DIVERSION TO RAILWAY LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Heavy economies in the transport industry as an emergency measure have been announced by Mr. T. H. Langford, the licensing authority for the Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland district. Numerous services will be suspended or restricted and a large volume of traflic diverted to the railways to save petrol. The Railway Department itself will .bandon all its road goods services in this district as from next Monday until the war ends.

Though, with similar economies adopted in other sections of the transport industry, there will be many men who would lose thenpresent jobs, it is expected that other positions will be found for them. Many of the trucks it is intended to divert to defence purposes.

In 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 the transport industry would be the last to lose its petrol, it was also desired that the industry should make whatever economies were possible. Two Courses Open

He had reviewed the situation with the full collaboration of the industry. There were two courses, a diversion of traffic to the railways and the further rationalisation otroad services. This was a difficult job to undertake, but it had been made easier because of the willing co-operation of those concerned.

It meant that several parties would have licenses suspended while the war lasted. They would undoubtedly lose through this, but they had indicated readiness to co-operate with the Government in any proposal irected to the conservation of national resources and appreciation of their attitude was due to them. Every effort would be made to find work elsewhere for men who would inevitably lose their jobs. The abandonment of the Railway Department’s road goods services while the war lasted had been arranged in the No. 3 district. He understood that it was under consideration in other districts also.