MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 February 1926, Page 5

MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT.

PRIVATE ’BUS COMPETITION. RIVAL INTERESTS CONFER. (by TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. Evidence of the alarm; caused in municipal transport departments throughout the Dominion by the invasion of private ’buses in the city and suburban traffic was given to-dav, when sixty delegates, representing various municipal and motor omnibus- interests from all parts- of New Zealand, met in Wellington and discussed the draft regulations of the Government for the, control of motor competition. The- Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) presided, and with him was the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. R. F. Bollard). The Prime Minister suggested that after his address a motion should be introduced to ascertain whether regulations or no regulations were wanted. The various points in the. draft regulations could then be considered, and those upon which there was a conflict of opinion could be referred to a committee for recommendation and further consideration in open conference. The Et. Hon, .J. G. Coates said the Government had for some time realised that the regulation of public transportation must be undertaken. In the past transportation had been mainly by ship, train, electric tramway and horse vehicle. The first of the three had been under close supervision by the Government to ensure that public inter, est was adequately safeguarded and particularly that the. lives of passengers were not jeopardised. The advent of the self-propelled vehicle altered the conditions, and witliin the last few years the balance, particularly of what might be called retail transporation, had shifted very greatly to wha-t was commonlv known as the motor vehicle. So far tiiere had been little or no regulation of this Business. While the electric tram, against which the motor bus particularly competed, was regulated with respect to its safety appliances, fares., time-tables, routes, conditions of employment for its staff, etc., the motor bus ran with practically no restrictions and without Government supervision and regulation. The chief concern of the- Government was the daily life of t-lie people and to secure the most reliable and cheapest form of transport. While the Government’s chief function was the protection of the life anti liberty of its citizens, it nevertheless had a duty which required it to protect any large body of its citizens against financial loss if such could! be done without any undue interference. It behoved the Government to assist thousands of people to preserve an' asset such as tramways, which had cost them so much and which, irrespective of motor transport, were really necessary to the transportation system of the eountiyA.t t-lie same time it was recognised by .everyone that motor transport was an essential part of our life at the present time. It was hoped that with ail interests represented at the conference they might be able to evolve something which would be to the good of transportation throughout the country and not result in undue hardships to any individuals. Many aspects of the proposed regulations were discussed, representatives of the • motor proprietors strenuously objecting to many clauses, which they declared were calculated to eliminate ’buses altogether through the fear of losses being occasioned by municipal tramways. On the other hand, delegates from the cities and boroughs considered it was essential that some measure of protection should be accorded the big public, services winch had been built up by the aid of public funds. . ■ There rvas a long discussion on various clauses, particularly those giving power to local authorities to determine as to various factors of adequacy or inadequacy of service,, etc. No decision was arrived at on this point. No finality was reached by the conference to-day, several matters being referred to a representative committee.