THE TRANSPORT BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20981, 18 September 1931, Page 11

THE TRANSPORT BILL.

OPINIONS of members. PRESENT ROAD PROBLEMS. NEED for co-ordination. [Br telegraph.—PßKSS association.] n .. WELLINGTON, Thursday. o debate was resumed in tho House f _ °P reson tativss this evening on the motion to commit the Transport Licensing Mi. 11. L. Jull (Government—Waipawa) said he was confident that time wou c show that tho transport problem as too big to be treated piecemeal. It would have to bo controlled by a national organisation. Mr. A E. AnscU (Reform-Chalmers) said he hoped the negotiations proceeding between the Minister and the local bodies regarding the constitution of licensing authorities would be successful. The Ministei had already made concessions to local bodies without altering the principle of the bill. Mr. Anscll referred to the English Commission's recommendation that vehicles cf over four tons should be subject to litavy taxation in order that they might bo discouraged. This suggestion was made, not only to protect tho roads, but also to protect tho railways. Ho himself thought .the Transport Department's policy of reclassification was tho fairer way of dealing with tho problem. The country could not afford to keep on building roads for 10-ton vehicles. He urged the. Mi-lis-ter to reduce the loads on rural roads, and consider tho prohibition of vehicles over a certain weight. Mr. h. Langstone (Labour —Waimarmo) said the country would welcome the bill. He was at a loss to know why the Highways Board and the Transport Department should not bo merged. He suggested the Highways Board should ba constituted the central licensing authority. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour —Napier) stressed the necessity for the co-ordina-tion of all transport services, whether by rail, road or air. Mr. If. M. Campbell (Reform —Hawke's Bay) asked whether ibe Minister had made provision for tho transport of fat lambs. He said this trade had been greatly assisted by motor-lorries. The debate was interrupted by the rising of the House at 10.30.