CARRIERS’ TROUBLES.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19902, 3 June 1936, Page 6

CARRIERS’ TROUBLES.

PROTEST AT TIMBER OYOTII. “SCROUNGERS” IN TRADE. (Times Representative). MORRINSVILLE, Tuesday. “ It is this incessant calling for tenders by the dairy companies that is responsible for half the motor carriers‘ troubles to—day," said a delegate at last night‘s conference of Waikato and Thames Valley motor carriers at .\torrinsville. “Irrespective of anything else the companies award the contracts to the lowest tenderers. Inexperienced men accept these contracts without any knowledge of costing their mileage. In many cases they have little or no money and, having secured a contract. their next step is to seek credit for purchase at the actual trucks. In short they are the “scroungers” or the carrying trade and since the Minister for Transport has freely expressed his dislike for “scrounsers” it is only reasonable to expect him to deal ade< quateig with the situation.“ Several speakers deprecated the acceptance by dairy companies of the lowest tender without due regard to all the circumstances. There was a certain price, it was contended. below which it was impossible to operate. When contracts were let below that minimum figure it simply meant that the dilfcrencc was being paid by the store-keepers, oil, tyre and petrol merchants who supplied the tenderer instead ot being paid by the dairy companics. it was decided to lay the position before the Minister of Transport.