Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 1945. CO-ORDINATED TRANSPORT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 258, 29 September 1945, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 1945. CO-ORDINATED TRANSPORT

In common with practically every other country, New Zealand faces many complex problems in relation to her transport systems and in order to cope with these-diffi-culties it is the Government's intention to put aside for the time being- the report of the Rail and Coastal Shipping- Committee and set up a Transport Co-ordination Council to report on the coordination of road, rail, sea and air services. The report of the Committee, which took evidence in several parts of the Dominion some months ago, came before Parliament this week, and it -was evident from the opinions expressed by'members on both sides of the House that Cabinet's decision to enlist the advice of the best available experts is an essential step in the best inte'rests of the country as a whole. There are so many questions involved,, and so closely related to the development of the country's trade and industry is the subject of transport, that the best advice is necessary before any steps are taken to solve the issues facing the Dominion. The Minister of Transport has declared that it is desired to see that road, rail, sea and air transport services do not clash, but that they should combine to give New Zealand the best possible transport system with all these different services taking their place in it. In the case of coastal shipping, a g-ood deal of concern has been caused by the falling off that has taken place in this class of transport in recent years. Inroads made by the Railway Department by its .system of differential rates have largely been blamed for this. The reduction in coastal trade has brought about a serious position for some of the small harbour authorities which have the burden of loan commitments to meet in the face of lower revenue from the reduced tonnage handled, while'at the same time they have the expense of maintaining port facilities for the vessels that are still trading. The Minister of Railways has stated that it is not the intention or design of his department to destroy shipping transport, but the fact remains that the. railways, by preferential rates, have taken away a good deal of the traffic that coastal shipping formerly enjoyed. On the other hand, there is the call by the taxpayer for balanced accounts and a profit if possible in the Railway Department. All of these matters will no doubt claim the attention of the Co-ordination Council. There is also the matter of road versus rail, transport. Passenger and goods services by road have been under strict control for several years, and while the necessity for' eliminating what is termed cut-throat competition has been recognised ,_ it is claimed that the licensing system has numerous anomalies. The Government's intention to operate all commercial air services also presents a new aspect of this subject. The work of the Co-ordination Council will call for the highest qualifications among its members.