Road Motors Benefit Primary Producers in Australia.
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ON of the problems which for many N years to come must face the primary producer and the merchant alike throughout the whole of Australia is that of the transport of small consignments between the point of production and that -ofmarketing. The idea of building a network of railways, which will tap practically every district in such vast areas as Queensland or New South Wales, must, it is considered, be ruled out of the question, for the reason it has been proved that in linking up outlying areas with the railhead, and even in the transport of loads from primary producing.districts to a central marketing point, the present-day motor lorry has many advantages over the railway.
As an instance of the success of the road transport of goods in Queensland, the results achieved by the Northern Rivers Express Co., Ltd., may be quoted. The position as seen by this concern when operations were commenced was that within 200 miles of Brisbane was a rich primary producing district, i.e., the northern section of the Northern Rivers District of N.S.W. Although this district was directly con
nected by rail with Sydney, that city was 400 miles away. The natural market for the products of the district was, consequently, north to Brisbane, but the lack of direct rail connection with this important centre created a big difficulty.
It was at -this juncture that the Northern Rivers Express Co., Ltd., stepped in by commencing to run a motor lorry daily between the two centres. The possibilities of such a service were quickly grasped by many of the primary producers of the district, whilst storekeepers in Brisbane soon realized the advantages of forwarding goods by this method to the producers in the district tapped. In this way a reciprocal trade is being built up which is of direct benefit to both parties.
So quick has been the response to the carrying facilities offered by the company that although operations were commenced in January last with only one vehicle, in less than six manths it was found necessary to put no fewer than six lorries on the road in order to cope fully with the business available. Receiving depots have been opened in about a dozen towns.
At present a lorry leaves Brisbane at 5 a.m. daily and the goods transported are delivered at their destination the same day. Another vehicle leaves at 8 p.mdaily carrying products which the primary producers may pick up the next morning when they come to he receiving depot with their outward loads. In this way a great saving of time is effected; -which means much to the primary producers in these days of keen competition.