NOT SOLVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 5

NOT SOLVED.

TRAFFIC PROBLEM.

CONTROL OF COMPETITION.

CO-ORDINATION REPORT,

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Heporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Competition between transport services by land, air and water is the subject of a large part of the annual report of the Transport Co-ordination Board. The report points out that the board is required to take into consideration transport services of any kind when determining an application for a license, but the owner of a water service has no right of appeal. The re-port continues:

The problem o£ competition is not quite solved yet; and we do not even suggest that competition ought to be eliminated altogether, but merely kept within bounds to prevent wasted effort, and this must depend on the co-operation of all forms of transport. At present the board is the final authority as regards road and air transport, the railways are controlled by the New Zealand Government Railways Board, and coastal shipping services are uncontrolled altogether (except, of course, as regards the laws and regulations dealing with seaworthiness, working hours and kindred matters, and such domestic control as is exercised by the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation). A closer approach io a mutual understanding between all transport interests must be reached to bring about any satisfactory result. The desired end can only be attained by the adjustment of two factors—rates and time-tables. The adjustment of these two factors must ensure to the public the cheapest and most efficient form of transportation available, and must be subject to some form of control t$ ensure due observance and provide that stability which is so necessary in modern trading conditions.