RAIL AND SHIPPING SERVICES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23261, 24 July 1945, Page 4

RAIL AND SHIPPING SERVICES

Cori petilion’s Sho'Jild Be Regulated Trlbi'ii: 1 Recommended i In- :•(*;’<>• i r i ! Jr- J*.; il e.:i rrhased I- :*■ H th • Ti • ing th:- compclhioa .re t- n liei;flws ;:i»*l <«.:•••.*! -b.c’j:,-.ig :nd the v «;f c onJ.-■!! n.” competition in the n.'.fonal in The comnmt— Lun i that there *a;i North Auckland and :h - iky ol Plenty distri' 1 - h also e-.i nded to .some rxtcni Ion" i -.■• i mid western coasts of the North 1 land and on the eastern coast ol the South Island The report states that compel loon usually takes the form oi a .*!rug"T* lor a more ivrctient and eflici: tit service. and has become* imen.se when* the volume of irrieht offering is substantial and is spread imiicnn.y or. a given period As competition led to lower transport charges there was generally a desire in the districts concerned for as many forms of transport, •is possible, 'lhe effect of competition was to increase attention to customers and reduce charges. In several cases the shipping services had been unable to carry on at lower rates and h; :i gone off the route affected or out of business aliogeiher. The committee consid -red that no restrictions should be imposed on one form of transport merely for the purpose of benefiting some oth t form of transport. The pubii ■ ini.*r n -;‘ called for a service at the lowest possible charges, consistent with lhe adequate maintenance and provision of modern facilities. The interests o.’ national and Empire defence were also of vital consideration. “A Public Evil” The committee found no evidence that lhe public required regulation as a protection against exorbit an’ charges. The committee considered that unregulated competition between th? railways and coastal .shipping might be as great a public evil as an unregulated monopoly 1,-('cause n produced instability g! rales harmful Ifindustry and trade. It had h'd to uniair (i’si rimina 1 ion ;o shippers oi freight. It tended to undermine the financial structure of both the railway*, and th.* shipping services, and tended to kicp industries from rn-iint tininr their equipment in line with modern requirements. Road and air transport would tend to increase competition. The committee considered it essential in the national interest to maintain railways and coastal shipping in a heal Iby condition and consequently, competition should be controlled. * The simples’ and most effective control would be tprovide an independent judicial authority on all special, as distinct from standard, rates With power tc determine the matter in the light ol national interests. The committee recommended that the tribunal should consist of three members, the chairman to be p Supreme Court judge or independrn’ person of legal experience, cue member to be nominated by the Shipowners’ Federation and the other to be appointed by the Minister 01 Transport. The committee also made recommendations regarding the operation of th* tribunal and suggested (hat lhe whole procedure be embodied m legislation. The report includes a ‘•latrmei i bv the Naval Secret.:rv emphasising Ur* importance of maintaining a fleet of coastal ships.