TAKING-OVER ROAD FREIGHT SERVICES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 121, 8 June 1937, Page 7

TAKING-OVER ROAD FREIGHT SERVICES

i— Press Association.)

Government Appoints Purchase Officer WORK FOR EMPLOYEES

(By Telegrapl

WELLINGTON, This Day. An announcement in connection with the Government ;s proposal to take over road freight services under its policy of transport co-ordination was made to-day by the Hon. R. Seinple, . who also outlined the maeliinery for the taking-over of these services. Two purchase oflicers have been appointed, ko said, and any dispute will be settled by a tribunal the personnel of which is: Sir Francis Fraser (chairman); Mr. L. H. Heslop, publie aecountaut, of v.clliugtoti, representing road transpart interests; and Mr. S. S. Ellington, . tiJig ihe railways. The pur.......;e ofiicers appointed are Mr. H. Valentine, second Assistant-General Manager of Railways, and Mr. J. D. Brosnan, land-purchase ofiicer of the Public Works Department. The purchase officers will be assisted by an investigating accountant from the Treasury Department ond three officers experienced in the construetion and operation of mofor-vehicles. Mr. Semple said that a careful examination had been made, e'mbracing the whole field of road and rail competition, and that it had been decided to commence negotiations With services operating over relatively long distances, the longest being WellingtonNew Plymouth and the shortest Wel-lington-Featherston, 42 miles, A start would be made with the service from Auckland to Whangarei. Services running south from Auckland would be dealt with next, • while those running out of Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin would be dealt with in that order. "In cases wkere the operatlons are agreeable to enter into negotiations, every endeavour will be made to have tliem completed as soon as possible," said Mr. Semple. "In cases where the operators are not agreeable to negotiate, consideration of applications for the renewal of existing licences will be proceeded with as provided in the Transport Licensing Act." Mr. Semple said that an effort had been made to ereate the impression that employees of services taken over would suffer. "I want to make it quite clear, ' ' he said, "that the Government is -desirous of seeing that no employee Will suffer anytking in the way of hardship and that ©very effort will be made to continue the employment of those affected or, failing that, provide other work for them."