Transport fear allayed

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 16

Transport fear allayed

There was no suggestion that the Railways Department should enter road transport with advantages over private operators, the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) told the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association’s conference in Christchurch last evening. “If there is a Railways Corporation with a road transport division, private truck operators should have no fear of being done out of business,” Sir Basil said. "Rather, they will have the stimulus of competition which must in the long run mean only good for New Zealand’s transport system as a whole.”

Sir Basil said the Government felt there should be more competition between the State and private enterprise. But at this stage, there was no finality on the Government’s thinking about the reorganisation of New Zealand’s transport system. “We are very much aware of the need to ensure that the full

implications of all the alternatives are fully investigated,” Sir Basil said.

He praised "Operation Freight Roll” which was mounted last year to clear freight congestion in major centres. “It is in abeyance, but should the need for it arise again it will be speedily activated.” Officers of the Ministry of Transport had indicated concern that some of the transporters being produced today were larger than the loads demanded, he said. “Your association may wish to investigate this development with a view to encouraging your members to rationalise the use of very large transporters in the interests of safety and economy,” Sir Basil said.