UNECONOMIC COMPETITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 8

UNECONOMIC COMPETITION

MOTOR OMNIBUS COMPANIES DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER; (Per United Press Association * WELLINGTON, June 11. The increasing amount of uneconomic competition which is making itself Lilt on the licensed routes of most of the omnibus companies and by owners operating under the Motor Omnibus .Traffic Act, was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister to-day by a i deputation from the Now Zealand, 1 Motq'r Omnibus Proprietors' Association. The dtputation consisted of Messrs L J. Keys and L. Alderton (Auckland), N. Bell, S. Crichton, and C. L. Bishop (Wellington). W. Stickings (Christchurch), 6. S. Kirby (Dunedin), and D. F. Smillie (Palmerston North). Speaking for the association, Mr Bell stressed the necessity for the immediate provision of adequate protection for these services in order to place all motor passenger transport on an equal footing. Five years ago. he said, the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act was passed, mainly for the purpose of protecting the municipal tramway undertakings from wasteful and uneconomic competition, and it definitely achieved that purpose. The motor omnibus concerns now considered that they could fairlv claim similar protection from outside competition which was threatening them on many, of the licensed'routes during the last five years. They had been Compelled, in order to obtain and continue their licenses, •to comply strictly with the Act in all its details, and had been required to maintain an adequate service It was the opinion of members of the association, continued Mr 8011./' that the time had arrived when the interests of the public could best bo served by an extension of the application of the Act so as to include all motor passenger transport. It could not be urged too strongly that, the proposed Transport Bill should be brought before the House at its next session. That the matter was urgent was proved by the number of letters recently received from members of the association complaining of the increasing amount of interference on their licensed routes bv vehicles not subject to any regulation whatever.

The Prime Minister assured the deputation that ’ the matters brought before him would receive due consideration. He hoped to bring down transport legislation early next session.