ROAD TRANSPORT IN DOMINION

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 6

ROAD TRANSPORT IN DOMINION

Scheme To Improve Co-ordination

COMMITTEES SET UP BY MINISTER GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF INDUSTRY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 11. The Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) today announced the following personnel for the 21 district road transport advisory committees. The members are given in order of road transport, Railways Department » and Transport Department representatives:—

Whangarei.—Messrs A. Tyler Davies, J. Sawers, L. E. Ginn. Auckland.—Messrs W. E. Anderson, J. Sawers, R. H. Nicholls. Hamilton.—Messrs W. D. Thompson, J. Sawers, L. E. Ginn. Whakatane.—Messrs V. C. Florey, J. Sawers, H. Anderson. Gisborne.—Messrs R. F. Gambrill, J. W. Fergie, H. Anderson. Wellington.—Messrs H. V. Horlor, A. L. Smith, W. J. Simms. Wanganui.—Messrs G. R. Mackenzie, W. M. Cole, A. E. Forsyth. New Plymouth.—Messrs P. E. Stainton, W. M. Cole, E. M. Arnold. Taumarunui.—Messrs A. E. Pearson, W. M. Cole, E. M. Arnold. Manawatu.—Messrs S. McDowall, A. L. Smith, A. E. Forsyth. Wairarapa.—Messrs G. L. Thomas, A. L. Smith, W. J. Simms. Hastings.—Messrs T. W. Hercock, A. L. Smith, W. J. Simms. ' Hastings.—Messrs T. W. Hercock, A. L. Smith, J. Williams. Nelson.—Messrs H. G. West, E. Jenks, S. Greenberg. Blenheim.—Messrs D. Jack, R. Marshall, S. Greenberg. Greymouth.—Messrs C. Howard, W. Rodgers, J. J. B. Connor. Christchurch.—Messrs A. Hazelton, W. Rodgers, J. J. B. Connor. Timaru. —Messrs F. J. Cook, W. Rodgers, J. J. B. Connor. Oamaru.—Messrs D. E. Neave, A. E. Hargreaves, N. E. Jory. Dunedin.—Messrs J. Henderson, A.E. Hargreaves, N. E. Jory. Alexandra.—Messrs J. M. Mackay, A. E. Hargreaves, K. W. Davies. Invercargill.—Messrs G. E. T. Dorman, F. J. Raines, K. W. Davies. The chairman of each committee will be the representative of the Transport Department. NATIONAL COMMITTEE The national committee will comprise Mr G. L. Laurenson, Commissioner of Transport (chairman), Mr H. 1 Valentine, second assistant general manager of railways, and Mr H. J. Knight, secretary of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance. The district committees, which are being appointed under Section 11 of the Transport Licensing Amendment Act 1936, will begin to function almost immediately. One of their first jobs will be to get in touch with the road transport organizations in their districts with a view to considering and reporting on schemes for improving the co-ordination and general efficiency of all forms of public road transport which these organizations have either already worked out or will be working out in the near future. Before any of the schemes are adopted the transport licensing authorities will hold public hearings at which all interested sections of the public will have the opportunity of submitting representations. The national committee will also begin to function straight away and its principal functions will be to report on any matters referred to it and to co-ordinate, as far as is desirable, the proposals put forward by the district committees. “I am very gratified,” said Mr Semple, “with the enthusiastic manner in which the Government’s proposals in this matter have been taken up by all branches of the public road transport industry. I want to take this opportunity of paying tribute to the patriotic spirit displayed by all classes of transport operators. “The opinion has been expressed in some quarters that these proposals .are but a step towards the socialization and taking over of the industry by the Government,” he continued. “I would like to repeat what has already been stated by the Prime Minister and myself: As long as private enterprise gives satisfactory and efficient transport service, the Government is more than happy to leave the job to private enterprise. However, transport is a public utility and every Government throughout the world has taken steps to control and direct its development in the general public’s interest; and that is precisely what we are doing in New Zealand.”