‘Decision soon’ on 40-mile limit

Press, 30 December 1976, Page 8

‘Decision soon’ on 40-mile limit

PA Wellington One definite proposal — from the complex set of formulas recommended it, the officials’ report — on the “40mlie limit” to competition between road and rail will be brought down as a matter of urgency early in the New Year by the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan). The report, which was completed this month, took 'longer to prepare than he [had anticipated, said Mr Mc- | Lachlan. He said that he would be referring it to the Transport Advisory Council and the iCaueus Committee on Transport as early as possible. He would not disclose its consents. The report is believed to [be basically a three-option proposal — ranging from a [straight extension of the limit, based on mileage, to an extension on a commodity basis.

11 Mr McLachlan said he was} jmoving as quickly as possible; -1 to bring down a definite pro- j -Iposal, because there had al-1 ' i ready been several reports | -over recent years, without' -lany action. ? j The report went before the ! r I Cabinet two weeks ago. j Mr McLachlan Said his defl cision “will be the biggest! | I will ever have to make,” \ s because it would set the founcjdations for rail and road e | transport for the next 20 - years. I “Nevertheless, lam not goal ing to delay bringing down a 11 proposal for more than two e months,” he said. -1 He emphasised that his aim el was to co-ordinate all forms -|of transport. “I think we can do this, r I but when you heal a wound ilyou may have to hurt some a I people,” he said. p i The road transport sector !which, unlike rail, was not ’[represented directly, on the! > 7 iofficials’ committee, has not; I yet seen the report.