TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 40, 3 June 1938, Page 3

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

HELD AT ROTORUA " V Address by mr. phelan A meeting of delegates from the various carriers’ associations in the Bay of Plenty was held in Rotorua on Wednesday. Messrs Drake, Debreceny and fiislop, represented the Opotilci Carriers’ Association, and' representatives from the Whakatane, Tauranga and Rotorua Associations, and from the South (Auckland Council of Carriers’ Associations were also present. The conference was presided over by Mr Florey, president of the Rotorua carriers, and Mr Phelan, the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority outlined tin? purpose for which the meeting had been called. He stated that the time had arrived when the prices for cartage should be fixed. Prices had been fixed in the Raglan district, but it was his intention that his districts extending from North Cape to. Wairca (Hawke’s Bay) should be divided into areas with community of interest, and he suggested North Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne. It would be necessary for the various associations to get into touch with the various interested parties in their districts and endeavour to arrange charges agreeable to all parties, the prices fixed’ in the Raglan district being taken as a basis on which to work. A council of the various associations could be elected, to confer and place concrete proposals before him, and if the interested i parties could not come to an agreement he would hold a sitting to enable evidence from both sides to he placed before him. ■ The prices to be fixed were to be equitable as between .the carriers and the persons employing them and should be such that no carrier would be carrying on business at an uneconomic figure as many had done in the past. When he had fixed the prices such would be incorporated in the licenses. Prices would always be open to review by him to meet exceptional circumstances. He urged carriers to combine to a greater extent to enable overhead charges to be reduced.

The meeting decided to form a Council for the Bay of Plenty, and the following representatives were elected: —Opotiki. Messrs H. O. Drake and Hi si op; Whakatane, Messrs Ruff and Brabant ; Tauranga, Messrs Guy and Louden.; Rotorua, Messrs. Florey and Potter. Associations are to be urged to gather all available data for price fixation, and the Council will meet in Whakatane on June 24th., to consider such. South Auckland and Gisborne to be invited to attend such meeting.