CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27470, 2 October 1954, Page 6

CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT

ADVISORY BODIES APPOINTED ESTABLISHMENT IN SIX MAIN CENTRES (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 1. The setting up of six transport advisory committees —at Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill—to assist in overcoming transport problems as they arise, was announced today by the Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman). Each of these committees will comprise three members—one representing the Transport Department, one the Railways Department, and one the road transport industry. The Ministerdsaid that the creation of the committees had the" unanimous support of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, the New Zealand Carriers’ Federation, the Commissioner of Transport (Mr H. B. Smith), and the New Zealand Railways Commission. “These committees are not intended to deal with the normal day-to-day problems of transport, but with those, special problems that require co-ord-ination among various interests, for example, fertiliser distribution during the busy season, unusual concentrations of shipping at any one port, and transport of livestock at peak periods,” said Mr Goosman. “The committees will endeavour to anticipate traffic peaks and congestion, and ensure that adequate transport facilities are available.”

One particular aspect of the work of the committees would be to watch the clearance of loaded railway waggons at destination stations, and procure their prompt return to traffic, he said. Although there would always be times of congestion, no matter how many waggons were built, the present railway waggon supply was good. During the last 12 months the Railways Department’s stock of waggons had been increased considerably in number and capacity, said Mr Goosman. The introduction of a number of main-line diesel-electric locomotives was expected to result soon in a very marked improvement in the turnround of railway waggons. The same number of waggons would do much more work.

“This is a new development aimed to provide a better, and fuller, road and rail transport service to the public,” said Mr Goosman. “If good results are achieved, it is intended to appoint committees in other centres.”