THE MOTOR'S SHARE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1931, Page 6

THE MOTOR'S SHARE.

" For two years I have been trying to demonstrate that the greatest single factor in needlessly'increasing- the crushing burden that weighs upon ratepayers and taxpayers is the system of subsidising . motor traffic, the most expensive method of transport tliat is in. "general- use. • Judging by the published accounts - of - various local- bodies, it looks -aa if.,, motors pay a fifth to a quarter of the cost of the roads "and . streets thev use < rest being paid by the ratepayers and taxpayers. The commercial manager of railways puts it at 21- per cent, which 5s quite near enough to support my contention. On the other hand,'tramways pay the whole cost of .their road construction, besides maintaining an eighteen-foot surface for the use of their competitors, the' motors, and when. difficulty in. doing this the unthinking call them; obsolete! Kaihvays are also expected ■ to-pay the whole cost of their traeta, a' l when subsidised motor .traffic in competition makes this impossible the public say that the} do not "pay," and that no mors should ho constructed, although they are by far tie cheapest form : of- long-distance transport/ would be unseemly to expect the Prime Mini' ter.to answer questions from the audieiicc when be makes his policy speech on Monday .but it would clear the air if in his address e would- expound the policy of the Goyernnicn jn this respect by making it plain ivne they approve of motor transport receiyi» these gigantic subsidies in competition tramways-and railways, and, if not, w means he. would consider feasible for remo\ 0 the inequitable competition which he explain in his Budget speech last year

VIATOR.