SOCIALISED TRANSPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27043, 30 March 1949, Page 6

SOCIALISED TRANSPORT

Sir,—May I be allowed to bring before the public notice a further glaring example of Labour’s Socialistic or Communistic policy, whichever is the more suitable name to give it? When, the present Government came into office in 1935, they were not too slow in telling the people of this country of the failure of the Railways Department to be run at a reasonable profit. I can renumber their old cry, “ Why should private motor passenger companies take the passenger and goods business away from the people, as it is the people who own them? ” This is quite in • order as long as the people gain by this. Right, the Government buys out most of these companies and tries to tjoost up the railways. They also ran some buses where the trains did not pay, particularly at Mount Somers (near Ashburton). Take the following for example: There are trains leaving Timaru for Ashburton and Oamaru every day at the respective tirrr.s 7.35 a.m., 11.35 a.m., 4.55 p.m., 7.20 a.m., 4.40 p.m., and there are corresponding trains leaving Ashburton and Oamaru at approximately the same times, and all these trains had two or more carriages for passengers. Working people and country children ustd these trains. Recently I had occasion to pass through Timaru on business, and I noticed on the station there a notice proclaiming to the public that after a certain date —I think it was April I—no passengers would be carried on these trains, New Zealand Road Services instead. Sir, is it to be ordered by the State how we are to make our journeys? It looks to me as if things are being done to ruin the railways. Why, even in Dunedin, we have large transport companies operating goods services between DunedinPort Chalmers-Invercargill. If the member for. Dunedin Central says that Labour has only implemented 3 per cent, of the Socialist policy, I for one would like this " gang ” to be given thrir “ running shoes," and pretty quick at that. I trust some abler pen than mine will take this up. I will not acknowledge any letters using noms de plumes. Let writers sign their names and show their courage. —I am, etc., E. J. Borman.