TRANSPORT CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1940, Page 7

TRANSPORT CONTROL

COORDINATION TO BE ENFORCED MINISTER ON METHODS. SOME FREEDOM OF CHOICE 1 LEFT TO OPERATORS. 2 (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. ’■ The desire of the (lovern- ; nient I hat Ihe cn trying' indusi try should reorganise itself to overcome the disadvantages' of many small independent r units was emphasised by the Minister of Transport. Mr Semple, when referring yestci'day to future public road 1 freight policy. He suggested three alternative proposals whereby reorganisation might ~ be achieved —the zoning of operations. 1 the formation of central depots, and ‘ the formation of merger companies. •* However, he said he had no desire to “ force any particular method of cos ordination on the industry. Where acs tion was desirable and it was not taken, the licensing authorities would ” utilise their powers under - the TransI port Act to secure the desired result. i CO-OPERATION OFFERED. / "Recently I met the large and representative executives of both the town carriers and area operators,” said Mr j Semple. “Both organisations assured , me of the loyalty of the carrying in- . dusty and their earnest desire to co- ; operate with the Government. Had I war not broken out the administration . of the transport legislation would have ■ proceeded normally. Rationalisation i and the elimination of wasteful duplication would have been worked out with guidance from the licensing authorities and co-operation from the carriers. Progress would have been much ! slower than is necessary under war conditions. Today there is no certainly regarding our future supplies of petrol and trucks. We must, therefore, conserve every possible gallon of petrol and 'nurse’ our existing trucks. “The Government’s policy is, broadly to have goods carried by the railways in preference to motor trucks wherever this can be done without seriously interfering with national production and to see that each gallon of petrol used in motor trucks yields the greatest possible transport service. Steps have been taken to eliminate wasteful competition with the railways over distances in excess of 30 miles. Steps are also being taken by the Oil Fuel Controller to eliminate wasteful duplication and overlapping among privately-owned trucks. The owners of many of triese trucks have co-op-erated by zoning and readjusting their delivery services, and substantial savings in petrol have been made. “It is proposed to transfer as much as possible of the general traffic carried in ‘ancillary’ trucks to the public carriers, that is, to the carriers licensed to ply for hire oi’ reward, and this will be done wherever the transfer will show a saving in vehicle usage and where the public carriers have a satisfactory standard of organisation and i efficiency. “As to the public carriers, the Government desires the industry to reorganise itself so as to overcome the obvious disadvantages of many small independent units. At present the average number of trucks to each operator is well under two. Experience in New Zealand, as in other countries, has shown quite clearly that a road transport system consisting of a large number of small independent and disconnected units results in wasteful use of petrol, vehicles, and manpower. As a general policy, therefore .the Government desires the industry to be organised so that the benefits of large-scale operation may be obtained. INITIATIVE INVITED. “I do not want to assume the role of dictator, nor to force any particular method of co-ordination on the industry, as I desire the carriers to work ( out their own plans." said the Minister. "Where the industry finds any . combination or variation of these sug- J gested methods, or any other plan, suitable to effect the desired result, such will be implemented, but I wishj, to make it clear that where no action is taken by the carries and it is ap- . parent that action is desirable in the ' national interest, the licensing authorities will utilise their powers under the Transport Act to secure the desired result.

"I would also like to make it clear that where the majority of carriers in a town or district have decided on a suitable plan, the Government will not allow their efforts ot be thwarted by a minority. In these cases the dissenting minority will be required to come in and work with the majority. "Similarly all transport users, including owners of ancillary vehicles in •o far as they are affected, will be required to conform to such approved plan with the object of securing over all trucks and traffic, petrol conservation, vehicle saving and reduction in national transport costs,”