ROAD v. RAIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10742, 13 November 1928, Page 7

ROAD v. RAIL.

GOVERNMENT TO CALL SPEC-

lAL CONFERENCE

SENSIBLE SUGGESTION

(Special To The Times). WELLINGTON, Nov. 11

That a conference is to be called of representatives of the motor bus owners, motor carriers and. the railways to discuss, coordination of activity to .’replace;,ijhe cut-throat, corplietition; .yjgs. • emphasised ..by the > fiip.e. ! (sfr., Coates) at Masertbn/oid Saturday. ;; /V ••• ‘ 'There, ’seems' to be - some nervousness!dmOpg.Jihe"motor:people,” 3VJv. Coates, said.say ■'to them:, ‘.Don’t' bo nervous; /Our/position was' that, - on', certain- Jihes/ it was costing-us eleven';' shillings! a mihi to. run trains, when'Vbuses . on. parallel roads ’ could:fcarry;! all tthe passengers at ‘certain ■•times/at■; Is;,6d\ per mile Each- service was - trying to cut the other’s . throat,......3Y.e'' :bouglit Cpiit those 1 motor , services''by,- agreement on • prices y and we -are .working them in conjunction with -.the trains. My idea of. the. solution jpf"this,;problem of rail and -road -competition is coordination .\We • have : dozens. of contracts . all. :o,ver'; the j. ; country; The motor lorry owner . says: '‘l am ' put to -smasht'-himi’/Yrhat is not so w-ill, getca-- square -deal.', - -The Minister of.Public,-.Works has. said that •: there wiJT ,ber -a ; . conference and, •it • Will;, be •called: , We waptito- get down to'the problem" and., find an •economif'i. Solution •- • Tim : i• railways last year-cost; 2i4ld ,a/ton per mile-. The cost- pet rtpii, for> motors averaged ; ls fid./ .Can ( ;it;'rnot-,bp - said that -on -these figures the. 'railway r i^ ( the most economic.-fontf ; of 1 -, .transport. .; For manv'years ,tp-..come,' the, rails- vyill he the •main;‘arteries-of our -,traffic. ,