TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 December 1927, Page 9

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

COMMITTEE’S INVESTIGATIONS

PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

CO-OPERATION OF VEHICLE OWNERS DESIRED.

(by telegraph—press association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. The Prime Minister (Mr. Coates) issued a statement to-day in regard to the inquiry into the transport systems of New Zealand. As the preliminary consideration by a small departmental committee had proceeded; it had become increasingly clear that the* problem is one of very considerable importance and complexity, he said, and a larger preliminary committee accordingly had been set up to co-ordinate the work, consisting of the permanent heads of the Public, Works Department, Post and Telegraph Department, Railway and Marine Departments, with all of which are associated the Government Statistician and representatives of the Prime Minister -s department. The committee is now engaged on the task of evolving a definite plan by which it is hoped to collate in the simplest and most effective way facts and figures which will serve to form the basis of a reasoned conclusion as to the present position. As illustrating the magnitude and importance of the work before the committee, it may be pointed out that the scope of the investigations includes the review of road taxation by local bodies and by the State, the cost of construction of roads, including Government -subsidies, construction and maintenance of main highways, railway construction and ojoeration, harbour facilities, and municipal transport and road transport, both commercial and private. Already a considerable mass of detailed information and statistics has been collected and compiled. and it is felt by the committee that the proper time to initiate an investigation of this branch of the subject (commercial motor vehicles) .is while motor traffic is still in its infancy. Statistical enquiries have accordingly been addressed to owners of commercial motor vehicles. An effort has been made to cause as little inconvenience to those concerned as possible, and Mr. Coates trusted that, in view of the importance of the subject, the information will be supplied readily, in as much detail as possible. “In the circumstances I wish again to make it clear that the* Government have no intention of taking, any drastic steps in connection with motor transport or other ’mode of transport, nor, indeed, do they intend to take any steps whatever in the meantime. The object of the committee’s investigation is merely to collect data and reports,” said Mr. Coates in- conclusion.