AN ATTACK

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1932, Page 8

AN ATTACK

ON TRANSPORT OFFICE

DENUNCIATION BY MR HOLLAND

WELLINGTON, October 11

Vigorous denunciation of the operations of the Transport Department was indulged in by Mr Holland (Christchurch North), during the Financial debate to-night, when he urged the adoption of the National Expenditure Commission’s recommendation that this department should be handed over to the Public Works Department for administration.

Whatever failings and faults the Public Works Department might have, said Mr Holland, it could not impose harder or more unreasonable conditions than did the Transport Department. The Public Works .Department could not do more to. ruin people than the Transport Department now. was doing. The position of people engaged in the transport industry was most, serious and full of difficulty. It could easily he seen how absurd some of the transport regulations were. On\ instance was in regard to the Christ-cliurch-Southbridge service. Although it had. been running, a number of yeans and never had an accident its bus had been refused a license because a man standing, on the ground was unable to reach the fire extinguisher through- the window. He could not see the necessity for this, for surely the first consideration should he for the passengers inside, to whom the fire extinguisher ivas easily accessible.

GREAT HARDSHIPS IMPOSED. The Transport Department was saying that the people who supplied the money to build roads should not operate on them, and very great hardships were being imposed. Motor taxation was exceeding £2,000,000 a year, 'and if the policy of the Transport Department were pursued that •would be lost. He was satisfied that the Transport Department had not justified its existence. Mr Holland cited an instance where the residents of Havelock North petitioned to allow a taxi service to remain, in operation,. and their, request had, been refused, the Commissioner of Transport, Air J. S. Hunter, stating that he would not permit it, and that he would, see that legislation was introduced this session to prevent the service operating. “If anyone wants, any .more damaging evidence to show that this man is unfit for the position, he would be very hard to please,” continued Mr Holland. “He warns a committee representing 696 residents that they had no hope of getting a better service than thy have and warns them that they would get lip cqnsideraion, at his hands, and that no provision .will be made for them.”