Interfering With Transport

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7008, 18 November 1932, Page 7

Interfering With Transport

STRONG PROTEST FROM CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Per Press Association. ■WELLINGTON, Last Night. Full support to a resolution in opposition to the proposed transport ol goods regulations and the method by which it was proposed they should be enforced was given by the executive of tho Associated Chambers of Commerce to-day. The text of the resolution is as follows: (1) The proposals are so far-reaching that they should bo submitted to Parliament for consideration in the form of a Bill instead of becoming law by Order-in-Council. (2) Tho provisions involve tho extension of harassing and unnecessary interference by the Government with the business of transport and incidentally all business.

(3) Tho regulations will increase the cost and decrease tho efficiency of transport in tho Dominion and will further cripple trade and business at a time when its freedom to expand is vital.

(4) The regulations are considered to be largely designed to protect the railways against competition from road transport. There should bo no grounds for any suggestion that the Government would cripple private enterprise in support of a Government service. There should be no limitation to tho benefits from privato transport enterprise because of antecedent commitments by tho Government. If some railways capital is lost and tho functions of the railway do not cover the requirements of modern transport this should be no reason for denying the business of tho community the benefits of up-to-date competitive transportation.

This meeting strongly recommends tho Government that a committee appointed by and representative of road transport and other commercial interests bo invited to confer with the Minister of Transport in order to redraft tho proposed regulations to ensure the reasonable regulation of the Dominion’s goods transport along sound and workable lines and that the operation of tho regulations bo postponed until tho recommendations suggested by the advisory committee have been considered by Parliament in an entirely new Bill of a reasonable and suitable character.