CARRIERS IN DISPUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1940, Page 6

CARRIERS IN DISPUTE

PETTY SQUABBLING MUST STOP POSITION IN THE WAIRARAPA. AUTHORITY THREATENS DRASTIC ACTION. “I have said it privately and I will say it publicly that the operators in this district are like a lot of children." stated the No. 2 Transport LicensingAuthority, Mr P. Skoglund, al a sitting in Masterton today.

“This is a dispute apparently arising among two sets of operators in the district and it appears that you cannot come to some amicable agreement. It makes it worse, considering the conditions under which we are living today and seeing the position the British Empire is in.

I think it is lime the carriers here got together and stopped this petty squabbling which has been going on in the last few months. Mr Skoglund added. “I have advised carriers in this district that there is only one organisation I will recognise in this district, and for that matter in any part of my territory and that is the branches ot the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance. I have instructions to review every licence I have with the idea of bringing about better co-operation and co-ordination. I made a statement in Hastings that if there are any carriers who refuse to make some attempt to co-operate and co-ordinate to reach the goal the Government desires, then I think that I am quite justified in saying that the only course open to me is to recommend to the Oil Fuel Controller to cut them out of petrol. I am sorry to have to make a threat like that but the present is no time for disputes. When I come up to inquire into the question of co-ordina-tion I hope that the carriers will come to me and offer their help and not leave it. to me to make the decision.”