STATE CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 22772, 6 October 1937, Page 18

STATE CONTROL

•» RAILWAYS WANT A HOHOPOLY " CRITICISM BY WIST HARBWR COUNCIL << The whole trouble seems to be that the Government is out to kill private enterprise. The railways want a monoooly,” said a councillor at the monthly meeting of the West Hadbour Borough Council last night when discussing the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the taxis and town transport business. The mayor (Mr A. Smith) presided. _ The discussion arose when the report was tabled together with a letter from the Commissioner of Transport (Mir G. L. Laurenson) inviting comments or representation from the council. “ Apparently everything we _ want will have to come by rail,” said the Mayor after briefly reading the report. Cr F. Rodger: As we have had a previous experience- of the railways, I think we should all object to that. Private enterprise must not be killed altogether. ...... The Chairman commented briefly on the conditions at present imposed on country transport drivers. Cr Rodger; Evidently the Government wants State control —-all transport to be made by the railways. An example of one firm which could “ beat the Government by carrying goods at a far lower rate than the railways ” was mentioned by Cr Rodger. “ The railways want a monopoly. The whole trouble seems toi be that the Government is out to kill private enterprise as much aa it can.” The Mayor admitted he did not understand the report, and suggested the town clerk investigate and secure opinions from Dunedin people interested. . , , It was observed that it would be useless going to the City Council, What they should do was obtain the opinion of the one-man carrier. After further discussion Cr J. Robb and the town clerk (Mr W. Connor) were delegated to ■ investigate and report to the next council meeting. Those present were the Mayor and Crs Rodger, J. M‘Kay, J. Coutta, P. H. Davies, G. Throp, E. T. Monk, F. H. Hudson, and J. Robb. Before beginning the business of the evening the Chairman referred to the deaths of Messrs L. Page (father of Cr Page) and T. Harvey, the council expressing sympathy with the relatives. GENERAL. In response to an appeal from the St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade for funds to erect a suitable buiicling for the housing of the Dunedin centre, it was resolved to donate £5 ss. ■ , - The Ravensbourne Cricket Club advised that as it could not see its way clear to keep Moller Park in order for the purpose of playing _ competition matches, it was transferring its playing area to the Oval.—Received. FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported that accounts passed for payment totalled £560 3s, while collections during the month were £592, leaving- a debit bank balance at October 1 of £BIO. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The borough inspector (Mr W. Connor) reported as follows on work carried out during September:— The footpath was cleaned and the road metalled at Sawyers Bay station, Shandon street was metalled, the water tables in Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4 bad been cleaned, patching had been done in sections 1,2, 3, and 4. Stone had been laid in Manuku street, and the entrance into Moller Park had received further attention. The drain at Burkes had been completed, and a part of the handrail depaired. The, following work remained to be done:—-Entrance to Moller Park completed, concrete wall at the pavilion erected, water table at Mitchell’s repaired, Fire Brigade altered, drains laid on the main road at Ascog road and Burkes, and a concrete wall at Morton’s, St. Leonards.