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Southland Times, Issue 22896, 22 May 1936, Page 8

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MR SMITH SHEDS NO TEARS POLICY REGRETTED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, May 21. An admission that he was not greatly concerned at the removal from office of the three members of the Transport Co-ordination Board, although he regretted the change of policy involving the abolition of the board, was made by Mr S. G. Smith (Nat., New Plymouth) during the second reading debate on the Transport Licensing Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. The Bill, he said, contained some of the most amazing clauses he had ever seen brought down during his public career, and if the powers which the measure gave to the Minister of Transport were fully exercised, it would mean that, without redress, the private transport industry could be ruined. "I am shedding no tears over the present personnel of the Transport Coordination Board, but I do regret the change of policy,” said Mr Smith. “Some of the board’s decisions did great harm to people in my district. One firm in particular that established a daily service between Auckland and Taranaki suddenly found itself without a licence, and only by public agitation and public meetings was the position reviewed bv the board.” Order from Chaos. Mr Smith said that as a result of the Transport Act, 1931, order had emerged from chaos. With the exception of a few isolated districts, there had been progress all along the line in transport matters. Transport was in an infinitely better position in New Zealand to-day than it had ever been, am. was not in the chaotic state referred to by the Minister.

There was no limit to what the Minister might do under the Bill, added Mr Smith. It gave power for the exercise of political pressure. During the election campaign every Labour member had spoken for hours on the evils of boards and commissions, and yet nearly every Bill passed this session contained authority to set up boards of experts, committees or commissions. Members who had so vigorously condemned boards a few months ago today sat silent, and voted for the practice to continue.