CONTROL OF TRANSPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 13

CONTROL OF TRANSPORT

EFFECT ON GOODS SERVICES. NO HARDSHIP INTENDED. MINISTER GIVES ASSURANCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. An assurance that the Government had no desire to inflict hardship upon goods transport services, and. that it would give operators a chance to state their views before introducing regulations for the control of services, wae given by the Acting-Minister of Transport, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in replying to a deputation representing the New Zealand motor truck vendors today. Passenger services have been brought under control as the result of the passing of the Transport Licensing Act, and regulations are at present being framed to bring about supervision of goods services. The Minister said that the Government was of opinion that the regulations would be as milch in the interests of operators as anyone, and he assured the deputation that if it had not been thought ttiat the regulations would be of real advantage, the Government would not have bothered about them. Mr. H. Holland, M.P., for Christchurch North, who introduced the deputation, said some information was desired concerning the intentions of the Transport Board. It was understood the intention was to put a number of people out of employment, with the result that vehicles purchased on the deferred payment plan would be thrown back on the hands of the vendors, who were not in a position to stand further financial strain. Mr. R. W. Morgan said it was understood the regulations being framed would give the Transport Department the right to put certain services off the road, with the object of restricting competition, and the inotor truck vendors were considerably perturbed. He sought an assurance from the Minister that regulations would Be circulated among vendors before they were actually gazetted, so that the vendors would have a chance of stating opinions. The Minister said ho was sure any regulations issued would be as much in the interest of the motor trade as anyone else. People who were carrying on transport services, whether for passengers or goods, at a cost above an economic level, would have to have their cases investigated. The motor trade paid as much as anyone in meeting this undue expenditure. It was quite possible that when the regulations came into force some services would 'be discontinued, but it Had been definitely etated in a memorandum he had that as soon as the Cabinet approved the regulations the various interests should be given a chance of stating their opinions. No doubt a special sub-com-mittee of the Cabinet would go into the regulations. A special statement would be prepared for publication in order that those concerned would understand the import of the proposals.