TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1929, Page 6

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

FIRST AIEKTiNG OE COUNCIL

ADDRESS BV MINISTER

() EXER AI. FEA T( ’ 1? ES EM I ’HA SISEl). (Per Press Association.— Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Important aspects of transport problems were dealt with by the lion. W. A. Veitch .at the’ inaugural meeting ol the Transport Advisory Council yes lerday. lie announced that the Government had decided to postpone consideration of the question of motor taxation until such lime as fuither statistical information was available and the country’s financial position was improved. The only member not present was Air H. Halliday, of Dunedin, the South Island Alotor Union’s representative, who was delayed by the late arrival of the ferry steamer.

Air Veitch said the principle laid down by him in determining the constitution of the eouncil had been followed. It was not intended it should .

ho a well-balanced conflict of interests, or a weU-ha-lanee.fl l struggle between conflicting interests. it Wins intended to be, and he sincerely believed it was, a council consi.slin.tr of men who bad knowledge and experience of the motor transport business in every one of its phases. Those .sitting at the council table could speak as exports on every feature of.the transport problem that could come before the council. He knew every member would rise far above sectional interests and consider every problem from a national point of view.

Mr Voitcli tli'-n made his statement regarding taxation and said the payment of heavy traffic fees had been arranged for quarterly. This left it open to make any concession or increase in regard to any feature of motor taxation and to do it all at once. Postponement for, say, six months could do no harm;

The Minister explained Mr A. Parlane’s position as a member of council. He said it seemed to be in some minds that Mr Parlanc represented a political section of the people, but that was not so —ho represented the wage earners engaged 1 in the transport industry.' They were entitled to a spokesman. After declaring that there was a future for both road and rail transport, Mr Veitch said that, so far as the Government was concerned, the motor was entitled to its place in the general advancement of the Dominion and no attempt would be made to suppress it, in any way, in the interests of the Kailway Department or any other Department.