RURAL TRANSPORT TO AND FROM MARKET.
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The Opportunity for the Carrier and Haulage Contractor in the Fruit-growing 'Districts of the West.
THE OTHER day I was visiting the marketgardening area of Evesham and noticed that many commercial motors were in use. Many of the vehicles were privately owned, but I understand that, in the busy season, the Evesham and Pershore markets run motor vehicles for the conveyance of produce from the farms and gardens to the market, and for the distribution of empties.
Of course, last year, so far as it concerned fruit, the season was one of the worst experienced for many years, 'consequently there was not the need 'for motor transport such as would arise in a normal season; even so, all through the spring, summer, and autumn months the vehicles were kept busy. I knew that these vehicles were in operation because I had seen them', even very many miles away from Evesham, collecting produce. . . .
In conversation with a number of growers, I found that they were well satisfied with the utility of the commercial motor in their business, both for the purpose of collecting produce for the local markets and also for the. conveyance of perishable go;ods direct from point to point. Many repeated that the motor lorry was a great' boon, besides being a paying proposition.
The fact that motors are used by the markets for collecting even small loads is sufficient proof that the 'undertaking pays. Haulage .contractors will be interested to kr-Jo* that these vehicles are not owned by the markets, but that the work is done by hired contract. This relieves the Market Committee of a good deal of responsibility that is inherent in any trsotor transport undertaking. This kind of business offers a splendid opportunity for motor carriers residing in any, of the market-gardening and fruitgrowing areas, from the large areas surrounding big towns to the more isolated country places. Except, perhaps, around London and in one or two other district. including Lancashire. the full' mope of-motor
i road carrying n the market-gardening and fruit growing districts has, as yet, by no means been fully reached.
There is ample room for many more vehicles in the county where Evesham is situated, which is a noted area for fruit, vegetables, and mixed farm produce, such as eggs and milk. And it is for those who propose launching out, or who have' already started in the business of commercial road carrying, to realize to the full the scope they have befoul them in the direction indicated.
Perhaps the greatest difficulty with which they will have to meet will be found in the prejudice against, and the reluctance of many growers to take part in, a new development. It -will be necessary to make one's plans -known in good time to the. inhabitants of the district it is: tended to cover, so that they will have an opportunity 'of thinking about it and of 'disciissing its possibilities. It will be necessary for 'anyone, undertaking this work to solicit busi ness. If that is: not, then it may take a year or more to become established, whereaS in the ordinarY.way it .should be posaible to become established durtng any one season providing Sufficient work has been put into the niatter. of advertising.
I should like to say, in conclusion, that the lastmentioned matter is very important indeed, and when making this statement I do so on the strength 'of experience. I can bring forward examples of the most useful country services being established. At the same time, you would see growers and producers going to the trouble of conveying, by horse and cart or by omnibus, a box of eggs or a few baskets of fruit to the railway station, when, at the sante time and on the same day, motors were travelling through the village. These vehicles would have taken the gbods direct from the grower's door to the-consignee at legs expense for carriage than the railway, to say nothing of the saving of the .expense and trouble of conveying the -good's to the railway station in the first instance. AGR1MOT.