TRANSPORT BOARD TO GO!

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 February 1936, Page 8

TRANSPORT BOARD TO GO!

SUSPENSION OF FUNCTIONS ORDERED. HON, R. SEMPLE’S ANNOUNCEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Last Night. The whole transport system is most unsatisfactory, declared the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, in announcing an immediate suspension of the functions ot the Transport Co-ordination Board pending the enactment of new legislation reconstructing the scheme of transport control. “The Transport Board is to issue no more licenses or hear any more cases of any kind. In other words, they don’t exist as far as their functions are concerned, ” the Minister explained. He said he early appreciated the need of coordinating rationally the road, rail, sea and air services in the best interests of the country generally. Therefore he had conferred with Cabinet which had set up a committee comprising Messrs Sullivan, Langstone and Semple, with the General Manager of Railways, the Commissioner of Transport, and the chief engineer of the Public Works Department. This committee was making a complete investigation and had cabled Queensland and South Africa, as well as other parts of the Empire, seeking information on transport experiences and laws to assist in drafting fresh New Zealand legislation, which it was hoped would be ready for next session. The Minister condemned the prevailing cut-throat competition with the accompanying sweated labour. He also expressed dissatisfaction at the present legislation which made the Minister just a rubber stamp. These remarks were elicited by a deputation of settlers protesting against an alleged gross licensing injustice. The spokesman said it had been a bugbear for 18 months. “It won’t be a bugbear for another 18 months. That I can promise, “ grimly replied the Minister. Interviewed subsequently Mr Semple made it clear that the Transport Board was completely suspended. It wffl not issue new licenses or consider appeals pending the new legislation which will be introduced shortly. The district licensing authorities are not affected as far as ordinary business, including the renewal of licenses, is concerned.

Railways Board To Go

MR SULLIVAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night,

The early resumption by the Government of full control of the Railways Department was announced by the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, on Saturday night at a complimentary gathering in his honour arranged by the Addington workshops employees. •‘There happens to be in existence a body known as the Railways Board which under the present law is in full control of the railways, “said Mr Sullivan.” At the recent general election it was announced from hundreds of platforms that the policy of the Labour party was government by the party itself.

“It is the Labour policy to take full control of all the affairs of State. Since assuming office we have seen no reasons for changing our opinion. lam perfectly satisfied it is in the best interests of the people of the Dominion that the Government should take full responsibility for its policy without sheltering behind allegedly independent boards, “In making this declaration I wish it to be clearly understood that not the slightest reflection is intended against any member of the Railways Board. It is the system which is at fault. No truly democratic Government could possibly function as it should in conducting the affairs of the railways if the Government on the one hand and the management on the other were to attempt to continue their work subject to a mandated authority such as that with which the Railways Board is invested.”

Mr Sullivan said the Labour policy would soon be put into effect in this respect. He also promised that in its consideration of transport problems the Government would endeavour to secure the co-ordination of the various methods of transport. It was his opinion that the railways would remain for a long time the backbone of our transport system.