“UNECONOMIC COMPETITION”

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1931, Page 7

“UNECONOMIC COMPETITION”

BUS PROPRIETORS’ COMPLAINT

EXTENSION OF ACT ADVOCATED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, Last Night. . The increasing ahiount of uneconomic competition which is making itself felt on the licensed routes of most omnibus companies and owners operating under the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister to-day by,a deputation from the New Zealand Motor Omnibus. Proprietors’ Association. The deputation consisted of J. L. Keys and. L. Aiderton (Auckland), N. Bell, S. Crichton arjd C. L. Biphop (Wellington), W. St’ckings (Christchurch), G. S. Kirby (Dunedin) and D. F. Smillie (Palmerston North). Speaking for the association, Mr. Bell stressed the necessity for the immedia provision qf adequate protection for these services in order to place all motor passenger transport on an equal footing. Five years ago, he said, the iu.ptor Omnibus Traffic Act was passed mainly for the purpose of protecting municipal tramway undertakings from wasteful and uneconomic competition, and it definitely achieved that purpose. Motor omnibus concerns now considered that they could fairly claim similar protection from outside competition which was threatening them on many of the licensed routes. During the past five years they had been compelled, in order to obtain aqd continue their licenses, to comply strictly with the Act in all its details and had been governed as to fares, timetables, condition and construction of buses aiid insuring passengers and had been required to maintain an adequate service.

It was the opinion of members of the association, continued Mr. Bell, that the time had arrived when the interests of the public could best be served by an extension of the application of ’ilio A<ii so as to include all motor passenger transport. It could not be urged too strongly that the proposed transport Bill should Ije 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 >- ' the increasing amount of interference on their licensed routes by vehicles not (subject to any regulation whatever.

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