ROAD TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 158, 6 July 1937, Page 10

ROAD TRANSPORT.

GOVERNMENT POLICY.

EXPROPRIATION SERVICES.

ALLIANCE CRITICISES PROPOSALS. "Nobody who has followed the proposals of the (iovernnient in regard to goods motor transport can fail to arrive at the conrhic-ion that it is simply part of tho general policy of eocifllisation to which the Government is committed, and that it is being pursued with that end in view Jiit her than from any consideration of ad vantages that may result to tin; people of the Dominion in general, or tlio user* of goods transport in particular,,, says an official statement of the Now Zealand Koad Transport Alliance. "It is proposed to expropriate a designated group of the existing rond motor services, but there is liuh> doubt that the rest will follow before long. ''The. policy, too, ia being carried out with little or no regard to the wishes of those, occupied in the industry, and generally with that contempt for established business rights that one naturally associates with a Socialist administration. It is the policy of the Government to socialise the means of producl.ion. distribution ami exchange, and in thi-. instance they are pursuing it with fill apparent disregard of economic CO7l- - and without adequate con-i-kleration for the rights of the industry and its customers. Less Convenient and More Costly. "There is little reason to expect any improvement in transport services as the result of such a policy, and it would he hard to claim that that ie the object in view. It is almost certain to result in a service less convenient and more costiy to the consumer. Experience shows, that monopolists, and especially public monopolists, show little consideration for the inclinations or convenience, of their forced and unwilling customers. "Competition is not only the life of trade, it is a great promoter of civil and courteoiie service. Nothing is more exasperating than to be put in the position of "take it or leave it , by gome autocratic and powerful monopolist. People need only think back to the days prior to motor competition with the railway service to appreciate the change in policy, consideration and courtesy that comes with competitive service. Clothed with monopoly powers, the Department would probably again become aa brusque and inconsiderate ae it was in the old days before it had to meet motor competition. This is perhaps only human nature. "Under existing conditions the combined work of road and rail transport, partly complementary and partly competitive, does ensure a high standard of service to the public, combined with reasonable rates, and an abundance of minor facilities, and conveniences that are often taken for granted, but which would be badly missed if they were not available. "If the Government takes over existing road services, it will either operate them or cloee them down and transfer their present work to the railways wherever possible. If they are operated ae to-day it is difficult to see where any economies can be realised ae far as total goods transport ie concerned. In fact, the opposite is the case, since in Government-run buebieeees costs usually rise without additional efficiency being secured. Terminal Facilities Withdrawn. "To the extent that existing services are not operated after being acquired by the State, or are less intensively operated than is the case under private enterprise to-day, the present terminal facilities, which are an important advantage of motor goods services operated as at present, will be withdrawn, and the public will be put to extra terminal expense. This point-to-point service of commercial motor transport is an important consideration apart from its convenience, resulting in considerable saving , of time, owing to promptitude of delivery, as well as less damage in handling and material savings on packing. "If, on the other hand, the Government intends to maintain these important terminal facilities, or their equivalent, it would require additional staff, technique, equipment and experience beyond what is at ite disposal today; and if it hae any plan to provide these requirements without additional charges to consumers, or additional loss to the railways, it would be well to disclose it for the public information. So far the silence maintained on this important point would seem to indicate that the problem has not even been con- \ sidered, much less thought out and solved."