MOTOR-LORRIES AND RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 11

MOTOR-LORRIES AND RAILWAYS

The extraordinary increase in morfoK 'buses and lorries'in the city which has been witnessed during the pa<st year, threatening, in the' case of the 'buses, to convert the tramways' annual .surplus of half a million or so, into a deficit, ia spreading to the country..distriots. Some long distance runs. .are.beihg.iestablished between-country centres and also from! the pity..all classes of merchandise being carried'at rates which, are: considerably below those charged by the-railways. A message from one country town—Goulburn—which is about 120 miles from, Sydney, states that a fleet of motorlorries in that district; which', are comDQting directly with the railways,- are being utilised to their utmost capacity, and numerous loads of furniture Lavs even been carried from Sydney, residents finding that this is not merely cheaper, but it avoids the unnecessary handling by carrying the goods direct to the door, and minimises the risk "of breakages considerably. So formidable is the traffic becoming" that a members of the Ministry, in addressing a 'country"gatheringlast week declared that it was a matter for consideration whether it would not pay better to build good roads, capable of carrying heavy motor, traffic,, in preference to buildjng railways in new'dit* tricts. . : ; "'.;.'■ . :• ."■-.. . .