ROAD TRANSPORT IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27470, 2 October 1954, Page 3

ROAD TRANSPORT IN N.Z.

GOVERNMENT POLICY REVIEWED “STIFFENED OPPOSITION BY RAILWAYS” (New Zealana Fre&a . ssociatton) GISBORNE, October 1. Stiffened resistance by the Railways' road transport was reported by the council of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance to the annual conference at Gisborne today. “Government policy in relation to the industry generally remains the same, with a tendency for the railways to stiffen its resistance to any attempts - by the industry to improve service to the public which might be at the loss of some traffic at present handled by rail,’’ said the report.

In a number of statements Mr W. S. Goosman, as Minister of Transport, Railways and Works, had reiterated the policy of protection- for railways and restrictions on roads and road transport, continued the report. With the achievement of a progressive reading policy in sight the one remaining great factor retarding the industry was the 30-mile restriction. Neither the industry nor the roads nor transport generally would be able to give full service to the public while road transport was arbitrarily restricted for the protection of the railways. Referring to the setting up of the National Roads Board, the report* said that the operations of the board had so far been most encouraging. It had instituted a live policy of active interest in a drive for remedying- the state of the many sub-standard bridges and was getting on with the work of improving road surfaces with an energy that was very satisfying to the industry.

The report criticised what it called “a fetish for road classification and limitation of weights,’’ which it felt was not justified. The council had supported the New Zealand Road Federation in initiating more searching inquiry into the question.