MOTOR TRANSPORT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 3 May 1928, Page 5

MOTOR TRANSPORT

GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT INFORMATION. [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION i WELLINGTON, May 2. In connection with the inquiry now/ being undertaken by the Government into the transport systems of the Dominion, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, announced to-day that it has been decided to collect regular,and systematic statistics in regard to commercial motor transport services. The returns, which will be treated as confidential, will bo made for the traffic in one month of each quarter in the case of private business cars and irregular long distance trips. The committee set np to compile these statistics consists of the permanent heads of the Public Works Department, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Railway Department and the Marine Department, which\are the principal departments of the State concerned in transport, with whom are associated tho Government Statistician and representatives of the Prime Minister’s Department. Such an inquiry, which has not previously been made, may disclose a needless duplication, and overlapping of means of transport, especially in proposals for the future, for example, a duplication of parallel roads and railways in some cases where possibly a first-class road would adequately meet all requirements and save the taxpayer the cost of the railway and its operation.

The most suitable months suggested for the ccllection of the information were January, April, July and October. As April is just passed the next collection will be for the inonth of May which, while representative of this quarter, would also have the advantage of being six months from the last collection made in November. “It was decided, However, that these regular collections should be confined to organised services running over defined routes,’’ s aid Mr Coates. “The Government statistician was accordingly instructed to take the necessary steps for the May. and future collections. The preparations are well advanced. I wish to make it clear that these returns will not be used for any departmental purpose. Individual returns will he held in the strictest confidence by the .Government statistician and only the combined results will be made available to 'the transport committee and the general public. I would appeal 'to motor Owners engaged in transport business to assist the work of the committee bv supplying the returns as promptly and fully as possible.’’ -