TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 November 1927, Page 8

TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

PROPOSED MINISTRY DISCUSSED

(JIY TEL EG It A PH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH. Oct, 31.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce discussed the proposal to form a Ministry of Transport. Mr. H. S. E. Turner (Canterbury), who introduced the subject, said the Prime Minister’s suggestion that motor transport should be put on parity with the railways undoubtedly covered the intention to put such a burden on motor tramsoort as would make it,impossible to compete with the railways. It would be putting a brake on the wheels of progress to hold motor transport back in favour of an older method of transport in which the country happened to have invested, a large amount of capital. Mr. Turner moved a. motion protesting against the suggestion that a Ministry of Transport be established.

Mr. G. T. Wilson, of the commercial bran"]) of the railways, said the department could not possibly undertake motor transport at "the charges made bv the motor firms some of whom had (rone into liquidation because' the charges were too low. They competed unfairly by taking the cream of the traffic.

Other sneakc-s did not support the mover, saying in effect that, although the*’ abhorred State intrusion in husi-•rw-s. tlm country could not afford to allow private enterprise to make useless the £50,000,000 invested in the re d ways. Eventually the motion was withdrawn. and the matter was referred to the executive.