REGULATIONS AND CONSISTENCY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 22 May 1926, Page 6

REGULATIONS AND CONSISTENCY

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l am interested personally in- mo-tor-bus traffic, and in-a way approve of some of the regulations dealing with their operations. The effect of some of the restrictions will be to give a monopoly to some services, but. that will only emphasise the desire of the' Government •to give to him that hath. It is proposed to charge twopence extra for a ride in a bus competing against a tram. I think Cabinet to be consistent (although consistenecy is said to be the refuge o£ fools) should compel retailers of milk to charge at least twopence extra per pint for what theY sell. This would ensure the safety of the people's capital invested in the milk department. In regard to insurance, I would suggest that the Government Insurance Department should fix a premium, and make all private insurance companies charge at least £2 per passenger more than the State, as the interests of the people must, at all costs be protected. The men who get things done must have forgotten Lincoln's quotation regarding fooling when they spoke about compensation. The board to be elected or appointed does not need to refuse a license, but can fix routes, fares, and timetables, so as to make business a certain loss, and thus the necessity to pay compensation is gone. I would remind Mr. M'Donald that the only Governments to hurt the motor-bus traffic in the colonies are the Tory Administrations of New Zealand and Victoria. It "is well known whom lie supported last election. It has come to my knowledge that the representative of an English insurance concern submitted terms for insurance policies over passengers this last week in Wellington. These premium rates were just about half the rates published in the papers during the last few days. This, however, was promptly nipped in the bud. I would like to know if the Cabinet would change their coats and help the ones who have not.— I am, etc., MOTOR-BUS. 21st May.