PARLIAMENT

Lake County Mail, Issue 20, 8 October 1947, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

Transport Weaknesses Attention to weaknesses in the transport system was drawn by Mr W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago), speaking in the House of Representatives. By anti large the Government had a monopoly of transport, yet it was perfectly obvious that the Government had fallen down on the job, lie said. “As an illustration I have only to point out what took place in my own electorate in the province of Otago,” said Mr Bodkin. “In spite of tremendous development in Central Otago we actually have a worse railway system now than we had 40 years ago. In those, days, there was a daily service on the Central Otago branch line, and to-day there are only three trains a week. Certainly we have a bus service, but we had the same service run under private enterprise when the Labour Government came into office 11 years ago. We have a few extra buses to-day, but would anybody suggest that a bus service is a fair substitute, particularly for journeys of more than 100 miles. Many people get sick travelling by bus, and that makes a very unpleasant journey for those individuals, and not a very pleasinng one either for the rest of the passengers.” Hawea’s Problems Mr Bodkin said it had been pointed out to the Minister that the actual transport charge on a bag of wheat from the Hawea district to the Cromwell railway station, a matter of (50 odd miles, was over 2s a' bag. The Minister had been urged to give some remission of petrol tax to make transport costs to the people in the interior a little easier. The result of the charges had been that an area like Hawea Flat, one of the most productive areas in Otago, had gone completely out of grain growing because of transport charges. “ There is at least a 60mile freight journey by motor lorry and then 140 odd miles by rail, and the transport charges have just driven those people out of grain growing,” he remarked. »

Mr George Chalmers wrote requesting improvements to the street in front of his property. —The matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Reilly’s Central Parking Station advised that they could supply tractor and implements as required by the council and offered to arrange a demonstration during October. —It was decided that Cr Thompson make inquiries and report to council. A donation was sought by the Royal Humane Society of Now Zealand to assist in the work of the society. — The usual contribution Avas approved. Mir W. A. McDonald, Ben Lomond, and Mr C. A. McCormick, Closeburn Station, Avroto suggesting methods to prcA'cnt the straying of sheep onto council property. —It Avas decided to advise the Avriters immediately when sheep Avere trespassing in the borough. A letter from the War Assets Realisation Board in reply to an enquiry by the council stated that no wire stretcher mattresses were available.' —Received. The Building Controller, Wellington, Avrote advising amendment to the regulations governing building regulations and building constructional control. — Received. Those presold included the Mayor and Crs A. 11. Wheatley, J. B. Hamilton, H. Scav Hoy, J. L. Lindsay, and W. D. Thompson.