The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1936. TRANSPORT REGULATION

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1936, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1936. TRANSPORT REGULATION

Combining, no doubt, a- sincere desire to control transport for the public safety with the aim of the Labour party to transfer to the State tne ownership of distribution, the Government. regulations with regard to transport and introduction of virtually a State system, ar e moving towards the double objective aimed at. In the matter of public ownership of the means of transport, there are evidences ef drastic control where the State is operating already in regard to transport. The railways are being protected to the fullest, and extra costs are being put on the public. An interesting example arose last week With race meetings at two points in Canterbury, permits to use road floats to transport competing horses would be granted only in respect to the nearest meeting. Owners who had arranged for boats for the longer journey, saving both time and money thereby, sound they could not utilise the

tiPa road service, and at the last moment had to transfer to the railway, the journey taking much longer and involving more cost. This instance ;s typical of what is going on under the regulations in a large sphere, and is an example of the elimination of competition by regulation and licensing. The Transport News comments to the elfect that enough has been written already into the legislation and i-e----gulations to indicate Government preference tor the State-owned railways. It is fairly evident, also that the normal influences in commerce are not to be allowed to determine the respective limits of road or rail use. There is already evidence that the distance traffic is to be arbitrarily directed back to the rails. Legislative protection is to -be given th e railways That is more than a prospect, it is an apparent fact. To what extent it can be enforced, and for how long depends entirely on public acceptance of the decrees of the Government. As a result of the trend of the regulations, those interested in road transport are combining for the common protection of their business interests. But apparently th e public are not organsing, but submitting to new methods which must add greatly to trading costs. The users of the transport services will find competition so governed, that tariffs will have a rising tendency, and in one quarter it is hinted that general taxation is hidden in the railway tariff structure. The costs are going to rise in this as in other avenues, enforcing higher prices for commodities to consumers. This more extreme method of protection puts a new comple icn on the price outlook, for with the'.limitation of competition under control monopoly creeps in, and the penalties are enforced more readily. This is a phase of the Government policy which requires to be studied at every turn. Many changes are being brought in. and this transport question is an example of a fresh line of action where the public will be penalised to promote the general policy of the reigning power to the political objective it is believed to have in sight. The trend in this matter is well worthy a close studv.