SINGLE OWNERSHIP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 25 November 1937, Page 2

SINGLE OWNERSHIP.

OF ROAD TRANSPORT. DENIAL BY MINISTERS. (Bv Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. “The Government is not aiming at single ownership of public transport in the Dominion. Where did you got that idea?” Thus asked Hon. It. Semple of a large deputation of private transport interests which discussed the situation with him and the Prime Minister. “We cannot bo blamed if people are getting nightmares about nothing,” added Mr Semple, when he positively repudiated the deputation’s suggestion. The Prime Minister interrupted a speaker who made reforence to what the deputation was referring to as single ownership policy. “That is information to me,” remarked Mr Savage. “We set out to co-ordinate the existing services as far as is humanly possible without any respect to ownerhip at all. We found ourselves in the- position that already road services were cutting each other s throats, and whoever tho owners happened to be that would go on and they were cutting into the railways as well. It had to be dealt with, and involved the State purchasing some of them.” _ Mr Bailey, of the Road Transport Alliance, concluded a verbal passage with the Prime Minister with a warning that single ownership was unsound “and you are producing a load which in future you will be glad to get fid of,” he added. Mr Semple: May I ask where you got the impression wo were going to own all transport? Mr Bailey; It seems to be the general impression, but 1 sincerely hope —• Mr Semple: We cannot be blamed if people are getting nightmares about nothing. Mr McCaul, of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, informed the Ministers that although the motion at its annual meeting was directed against single ownership, it was then pointed out that the Government had not declared for that policy, but what they felt was that tho Government was tending that way, and they wished to see tliis policy reconsidered. “We will get into enough trouble without that,” replied Mr Savage. “If we can let the other fellow run the service, doing it economically, why should we worry? All we want is cooperation in this thing. You say. competition is the life of trade, but it has been the death of the trader. We want to see the trader live; above all we want service.”