ROAD TRANSPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1941, Page 6

ROAD TRANSPORT

LICENCE SOUGHT BY W.F.C.A.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CHEESE FACTORY. CRITICISM OF RAILWAY SERVICE. Strong orilicisni of the railway service in the Wairarapa was made al a silting of the Xo. 2 Transport Licensing Authority (Air P. Skoglnml) in Masterton yesterday, when a case of importance was before the Authority. The sitting occupied several hours and a considerable volume of evidence was taken.

The Rcxdale Co-operative Dairy Co. and the W.F.C.A. applied for a goods service licence to carry cheese, produce and general merchandise to Wellington with the right to back-load. Mr T. Cunningham appeared in support of the application. Mr J. Macfarlane Laing intimated that he would oppose the application on behalf of the Wairarapa branch of the N.Z, Road Transport Alliance. A similar objection was lodged by the Railways Department representative, Mr F. Parkes. REASON 5 PREJUDICE.

“I had hoped that reason might have taken the place of blind prejudice,” observed Mr Cunningham. The matter, since the last hearing, he added, had moved up to one of primary national importance. The Rexdale factory had averaged 400 tons of cheese per annum in past years. Last year it produced 700 tons. This year, to meet the requirements of the British Government, production would go up to 1,200 tons of cheese, which was a big factor in the total production of the Dominion. A fifty per cent increase in staff would be necessary, and the factory would work day and night. Farmers within a radius of 12 miles were supplying the factory, an almost unheard of thing two years ago. If men and women were willing to do that, they asked for co-operation and not hindrance. Dealing with the W.F.C.A., Mr Cunningham said it was the largest business concern in the district. There were eight branches, employing 300 people. He stressed the point that a lorry provided a more economical service than the railway. To use the railway service was the antitheses of rationalisation and nothing short of lunacy. The company's business had been carried out by the road service. When the amendment to the Transport Act was being framed, representations were made to the Government and members of the House. An assurance was given that the legislation would not hurt the company. It was a mere mailer of routine. That was how the company was soothed.

A DEPLORABLE SERVICE. Mr Cunningham criticised the railway service. He considered it deplorable. Goods from Eketahuna to Wellington wore sent via Woodville, a distance of 130 miles instead of 85 by the direct route through the Wairarapa. He quoted extracts from statements by the late Mr Savage, and the then Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple) when the service over the Rimutakas was “stated to have paralysed the Wairarapa and to be the most Stupid outfit in the world.” Mi- Cunningham said the Wairarapa line was not an open line of Government railway. It was only partially open for certain goods, particularly cheese. He considered that that opinion would be favourably received in a court of appeal.

Evidence was given by Mr J. G. Brechin, secretary of the Rexdale Company, as to the unreasonable treatment received during a fortnight’s trial of the railway. Mr J. H. Cunningham, general manager of the W.F.C.A., emphasised that the application did not affect the local carriers. He could not understand why they had opposed the application. The company had always done its own carrying work from the railway station.

Evidence was given in support of the application by directors of the company.

Mr Laing said he opposed the application on the grounds that it would trespass on the preserves of the licensed carrier. “MERIT IN APPLICATION.” Mr Skoglund stated that when the case was before the authority on a previous occasion, after reviewing all the facts very carefully, he had granted a licence. His main reason for doing so was the fact that the truck had been operating for some time before the Transport Amendment Act (requiring licences in such cases) was passed. He was also influenced by the fact that the suppliers of cheese would have to pay at least £7 to £8 per head extra per annum, if sending goods by rail. There was some merit in the application. It was notorious that the Wairarapa district included the most dissatisfied railway public in New Zealand. In his opinion the Railway Department should itself, in order to give a better service to the pub- i lie, have a fleet of trucks to serve the | district. Mr Skoglund reserved his decision.