TRANSPORT SYSTEMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20271, 2 December 1927, Page 12

TRANSPORT SYSTEMS.

COMMITTEE’S INVESTIGATIONS. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. (Feu United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 1. The Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) issued a statement to-day in regard to the inquiry into the transport syst-ms of Now Zealand. “As preliminary consideration by a small departmental committee has proceeded it has become increasingly clear that the problem is one of very considerable importance and complexity. A large preliminary committee accordingly has been set up to co-ordinate the work, consisting of the permanent heads of the Public Works Department, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Railway and Marine Departments, with all of which are associated the Government Statistician and representatives of the Prime Minister’s Department. The committee is now engaged in the task of evolving a definite plan by which it is hoped to collate in the simplest and most effective way facts and figures which will serve to form the basis of a reasoned conclusion as to the present position. “ As illustrating the magnitude and importance of the work before the committee, it may be pointed out that .he scope of its investigations includes a review of road taxation by local bodies and by the State, the cost of the construction of roads (Including Government subsidies), the construction and maintenance of main highways, railway construction, and the operation of harbour facilities, municipal transport and road transport, both commercial and private. Already a considerable mass of detailed information and statistics has been collected and compiled. It seems plain that an enormous development may be expected in the use of commercial motor vehicles, and it is felt by the committee that the proper time to initiate investigation of this branch of the subject is while motor traffic is still in its infancy. “ Statistical inquiries are accordingly being addressed to the owners of commercial motor vehicles. An effort has been made to cause as little inconvenience to those concerned as possible, and I trust, in view of the importance of the subject, that the information will be supplied I’cadily and in as much detail as possible in the circumstances. “ I wish again to make it clear that the Government has no intention of taking any drastic steps in connection with motor transport, or any other mode of transport; nor, indeed, does it intend to take any steps whatever in the meantime. The object of the committee’s investigations is merely to collect data and report.”