WHEN THE SHOE PINCHES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1932, Page 6

WHEN THE SHOE PINCHES

In Canterbury the Prime Minister has had to contradict the allegation that there is "an unholy alliance" between the Transport Board andthe Railways Board. The Transport Board, he states, is independent and is fulfilling its functions as a semi-judicial body set' up to prevent economic loss. Such allegations are to be expected. We have for long been taking too large a size in transport boots, and, now we must accustom ourselves /to something smaller. Of course, the shoe pinches, and we complain. The people who have been' enjoying the choice of a railway service to carry their goods at lowprices, and motor services to transport passengers and •freight from door to door, are apt to consider it hard and unjust when the Transport Board says there is unnecessary duplication. They suggest the "unholy alliance" when the Board gives its judgment in favour of the service which was first in the field and largely responsible for the development of traffic. But the Board is required by the Act to give preference under conditions to Government and local body applications for licences. It must be understood also that, when endeavouring to reduce duplication, the Board must consider which form of service is most essential. In many instances -such consideration will show that the road service can be dispensed with, though it will be inconvenient, whereas the railway must continue to give service even though it does so at a heavy loss. . - ' • l -