THE TRANSPORT ACT

Evening Star, Issue 21823, 12 September 1934, Page 8

THE TRANSPORT ACT

POLICY OF ADMINISTRATION ATTACKED RAILWAYS RECEIVE TOO MUCH CONSIDERATION (Pm United Pkess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 11The policy of administering the Transport Act was attacked by Mr B. W. Johnston, president of the Canterbury Progress League, at a conference held to discuss the completion of the Soutli Island Main Trunk line. Ci Personally, I feel that the railways are essential to the wellbeing of the community,” said Mr Johnston, ‘ but 1 fear when reading the decisions ot the various Transport Boards and the decisions of the Transport Co-ordination Board that the policy of both is that the railways have got to be supported at all hazards. “In other words, I feel that coordination has not started, and that the way the Act has been administered is repressive so far as road transport is concerned because too great a consideration has been given to the railways. It looks as if the railways have to be saved almost to the extinction of road transport, and to the detriment of the country at large, both, commercial and pastoral. I mention that because the question of road transport is bound up with the question of tho South Island Mam Trunk line.”