GOODS TRANSPORT

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1937, Page 2

GOODS TRANSPORT

AUCKLAND FIRM’S SERVICES. TRANSFER TO STATE. AUCKLAND, September 17. The claims of goods road transport companies operating from Auckland, whose businesses are to be acquired by the State, were considered this morning by the Special Commission appointed by the Government to determine fair conditions of purchase. It was the first sitting of the tribunal and is expected to last until Tuesday. The five companies whose claims are being considered, found that direct offers for purchase were not acceptable, preferring to have their cases considered by the tribunal. No decision will be announced, the tribunal making its recommendations directly to the Government. Sir Francis Frazer is chairman, with him Messrs S. S. Millington (controller of stores for the Railways Department;, appointed by the Government, and L. H. Heslop (accountant, Wellington), nominated by the transport operators.

The following are the companies: McClymont’s Transport, Ltd., Felton (Waikato), Transport Ltd., Northern Transport, Ltd., Salter Transport, and Hicks Transport. Certain conditions have been formulated for the direction of the commission in negotiations. The major provision is that the Government will pay nothing for any monopoly created as a result of the Transport Licensing Act. It is also specified that no operator will receive less than the present-day value of the tangible assets, plus the sum of at least 20 per cent, of this amount as compensation. With these qualifications, the tribunal is given a free hand as to its recommendations.

LEVEL CROSSINGS. WELLINGTON, September 17. Outlining the progress that has been made with the elimination of level crossings throughout the country, the Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple) stated to-day that on account of the appalling loss of life on level crossings the Government has decided to expedite the programme of elimination. Altogether there are 530 level crossings on the main highways, of which 250 were considered of sufficient importance to warrant attention. The progress made to date was: Completed 15; in hand 74; under design 60; under survey or investigation 54; yet to be dealt with 47. Mr Semple drew attention to the fact that a certain delay had been caused by the slow delivery of steel supplies, which were very hard to obtain.