TRANSPORT LAW AMENDMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26847, 11 August 1948, Page 4

TRANSPORT LAW AMENDMENT

The City Council is not alone in its criticism of the Transport Law Amendment Bill which was introduced before Parliament recently. Other organisations which control public transport services have laid formal objections before the Commissioner, and although the Minister claimed that draft copies of the Bill had been handed to interested parties six months ago, it has been complained -that it varies substantially from the draft. The Bill includes some new safety provisions, but its real importance lies in the proposal that the whole of the

transport, of the Dominion is to be controlled by 18 persons, all of whom are to be appointed by the Minister of Transport. First, there is to be a Transport Co-ordination Council under the chairmanship of the Commissioner of Transport. With him are five public servants, three representatives of public and private interests, and five trade union representatives. This body is described as having largely an advisory function but it can also initiate inquiries. Next there is a Transport Charges Committee consisting of a chairman and two members representing the transport service owners and the service users. Appeal from its decisions is to the Transport Charges Appeal .Authority, who will be a person of

judicial standing, and from his decision there is no appeal. If these proposals come into force —and there is little reason to suppose they will not-r-the Government will have gone far towards obtaining control of the transport of the whole country without taking fhe step of nationalisation. The Co-ordinating Council, which is the principal organ, has' a loaded membership of State employees and trade union representatives, who comprise 10 of the 13 members. Of the remaining members, one will represent local authorities and public bodies which own transport services, one will represent all other owners, and the third will represent the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation. The public, as such, is left at the mercy of interested parties and there is 'little hope that its welfare can be adequate 1 y protected indirectly by the individual whose task it will be 1o represent all. the local authorities. The question must - also be asked what is to be hoped from the Transport Charges Committee with its nominally opposed members and chairman all appointed by the Department- It remains! to be seen, too, whether the. establishment of an Appeal Authority will mean that another task is to be foisted on the over-worked Judiciary or whether a special appointment will be necessary. To conclude, this Bill also provides a very comprehensive definition of the term “ goods-serviee vehicle ” and for Government testing of such vehicles at an enhanced fee. It will be poor consolation to the owners, of such vehicles that they will be making a contribution towards the cost of tfle new authorities.