TO DISCONTINUE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20115, 8 December 1939, Page 10

TO DISCONTINUE

WAIROA-NAPIER LORRIES EFFECT OF RAILWAY OPERATORS' HARDSHIPS (Special to tin; Herald.) ■WAIROA. ibis day. The plight of 'transport operator's in this district who, as a result of the establishment of the railway service, have been instructed to 'take their lorries oil' the Napier-Wairoa highway, was the subject of discussion at a sitting of the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr. .E. .1. Phelan, in Wb i roa yesttcrciay. Reference to the hardship which these operators would suffer was made When M. B. Svensen, Limited, applied for 'amendments to four authorities to m'ake it possible for it to 'carry general goods in the W'airoa-Hawke’s Bay and Cook counties instead of just the W'a'iroa and 'Hawke’s Bay counties as at present. The 'application was made as ia result of the fact that lorries operated toy this company toetween Wairoa 'and Napier will be taken off the road in the near future. For the applicant, 'Mr. C. V. Chamberlain stated that the matter was a very serious one for Mr. Svensen, who had been ordered to get off the road iby January 1. He was not asking for any additional authorities, but dimply wanted the present authorities amended to enable him to transport goods into the Cook County. The authority stated that the question it had ito 'consider was what effect the widening of 'the scope of the -applicant's licenses to the Cook County would have on the operators in that area. He had been hoping that it'he applicant’s service 'would 'have ibeen purchased. “Have there been any negotiations?” Mr. Phelan asked the applicant. Mr. Svensen: No.

'Mr. Phelan stated that as much as he sympathised with Mr. iSvensen he had to consider the others. In reply ito ia question by Mr. Chamberlain as to whether any Work he was 'likely to obtain 'as a result of an amendment to bis 'authorities would be at the expense of the operators ir the Cook County, the applicant said that such would definitely not be the ease.

'Mr, Phelan: I was living in hopes that you would have c-ome to 'some understanding with the railway people.

'Mr. Chamberlain: J still think the ruling given toy you in ,1937 should have Ibeen carried out by the Railway Department.

iMr. Phelan: But-we arc not .always the ,masters of bur own destinies.

He added What tbe question he Iliad to decide iw'as whether (there were sufficient authorities in the Cook County to-day. He had asked himself that question and was definitely of the opinion that there were too many. However, be was most sympathetic with the applicant and desired to help him in any way 'he could. He would reserve his 'decision pending a discussion between the carriers’ associations in Gisborne ahd Wairoa 'to see if something could Ibe done to assist the applicant. In addition, he would endeavtour to -see lil something could be done with the 'co-operation of the Railway Department. “We'll do all we can,” Mr. Phelan concluded. iMir. Chamberlain thanked the authority for its efforts and .Stated that all 'the carriers here /would appreciate its action very much indeed.