ECONOMIC TRANSPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 8

ECONOMIC TRANSPORT

Wasteful duplication of transport facilities continues in New Zealand, and, as the Bailways Department is reminded of this fact in its balancesheet, it is not surprising that the "Bailway Magazine" has some comment on the point. The writer <mggeata, firat, impartial, aeientiflc. inquiry into transport conditions, ana then such protective action as is shown to be in the economic interests of the country. We have long urged that there should be such inquiry; but it must be continuous, not spasmodic, and designed not to justify protective action but to make protection unnecessary. We have ■ two authorities mainly concerned .in transport and at prement working independently, if not actually in conflict. One controls the railways and another constructs roada or aids the construction. The first step towards an economic transport system must be co-opora-tion between these authorities. If thousands of pounds are spent in constructing a road which serves the same area as an existing railway it is surely most illogical and unreasonable thereafter to warn traffic- off that road. The right course is not to construct the road if the railway meets all the demands equally economically. The measure of economy can be determined only by debiting to each system of transport its fair charges. Experience has shown that this cannot be left to the judgment of the transport user-^even when he is a ratepayer and has .to meet the cost of road maintenance/ It will be impossible, however, to strike a fair balance and reduce the present wasteful duplication until road and railway authorities come together. A transport board might be formed representing the two authorities or collaboration might be secured in other ways. The essential point is to secure collaboration.