The Gisborne Times THURSDAY. MAY 21, 1936. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRANSPORT PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12866, 21 May 1936, Page 4

The Gisborne Times THURSDAY. MAY 21, 1936. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRANSPORT PROBLEM.

The main complaint in connection with the Transport- measure before Parliament is most likely to prove its imlefiniteness as to how far the Government ini ends eventually to go in the matter of control. It may he agreed with the Hon. R. Semple that, in recent years, an unsatisfactory state of affairs had been permitted to arise. Where previous Governments first went- wrong is a matter upon which there might well be a justifiable difference of opinion. In some quarters it is even held that thp initial great mistake was in setting out on a huge programme of highway improvements. What those who hold that viewpoint say is that that move sealed the doom of the national railways as a profitable undertaking. It is unquestionable, however, that the Dominion rcciuired, sooner or later, to modernise its highways.. Along that particular line of argument, t-ho matter might, indeed, ho taken a long step further back and complaint be lodged that the root of the trouble was that far too many highways were permitted to he built parallel to the railways. There is, however, ground for .legitimate complaint, that the railway authorities did not speedily enough realise that they would have to alter their business and their operating policies if the bulk of their business were to he retained. An effective remedy was certainly not provided when those in charge of the railways hit upon the policy of buying out private ro#d services and conducting them as State services. In this regard, the new Government is simply adopting a similar plan. Seemingly, in the long ran, judging I'rnnr a reply which the Minister for Railways made to Mr (•'nates in the House on Tuesday evening, the now Government intends to extend the principle until only private) road services to the backblocks remain. The Government’s plan does not, however, stop at that point, otherwise Mr Semple has permitted a very erroneous impression lo he created. Jt is plain that it regards the private car-owner as having done most, harm to the railways. What, therefore, has it in store for him? Motorists cannot he blamed if i(, is, with not a little anxiety that they await the Government’s taxation proposals. Mr Coates said it was difficult, to believe that Mr Semple had in view a, plan to prohibit private owners from taking long journeys by ear which they would have to make by rail if they did not possess a ear. As far as he went, Mr Coates may lio right. But under a new licensing system, the Government might put an intolerable tax upon cars that are used in that way. In the'near future, the railways will assuredly find in air travel another very formidable rival. Strictly speaking, journeying by air in this Dominion is merely in its infancy. What will the Government do if.it is still in office when the air services become a much more extensive- mode 'of travel?.. As far as can be made out it will treat them just as it intends to treat rival road services—buy them out! The Government would do better if it wdre to ascertain bow best to make the railways more popular and more profitable and leave unmolested private transport services that are proving a boon to the . general public. In the end, centralisation within the Government, of control of transport can lead only to financial failure. Whilst the plan remains in operation, it will be a source of continual irritation. Those who will he affected by,jt will never be satisfied and, in particular, there will be' dissatisfaction from the outset with the section which insists that "tile. Minister in charge shall have the final word on all matters of ap- , peal.