CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23315, 26 September 1945, Page 2

CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT

Road, Rail, Sea And Air Consideration Given By Cabinet Railways Harming Coastal Shipping iN.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 25. Speaking in the House to-day to the report of the Railways and Coastal Shipping Committee. Mr W. J. Polson (National, Stratford) said that a number of ships commandeered for the war were now finding their way back. What were they going to do for trade if cutthroat rates made it impossible for them to compete with the State- • owned railways? The Hon. J. O'Brien: Farmers are in favour of cheaper transport. Mr Polson said farmers were better off with shipping competing with the railways than in the nands of a railway monopoly. He complained that, the report of the Railways and Coastal Shipping Committee, which was voluminous and had a bearing on the problem, had been tabled in the House, but never presented. Mr O'Brien said that any member of the Opposition requiring a copj' of the report was welcome to it. Hie question of the rationalisation of transport had been under consideration by the Government. For instance, if the "community truck” system operating in North Auckland, by which a group of farmers could share a railway truck at truck rates, were withdrawn as shipping interests had asked, farmers would object strongly. Differential rates represented an old policy of the Railways Department and did place shipping interests at a disadvantage. Tne question for the country was what type of transport was most reasonable. It I had been predicted by those studying air transport that within five years most passengers would be airborne. I

Within a few years planes would be able to fly between Wellington and Auckland in one hour carrying 40 to 50 passengers. There was now a fierce clamour for more air services, and there would be air services all over New Zealand before long. Mr E. B. Corbett (National, Egmont): Will the Minister assist us in that? A Government member: There will be a Bill soon. Mr O'Brien: When the Bill comes in we will attend to It. Council Being Set Up The Minister said there was now In the making a transport co-ordination council which would be asked to bring down a report on the co-ordination of road, rail, sea and air transport to see that these various services did not clash, but combined to give New Zealand the best possible transport system with these different services taking their place in it. There had already been some meetings under the auspices of the Organisation for National Development with that in mind. It w’ould be foolish to have differential rates which resulted in putting one form of transport out of business when all were needed All four arms of transport were needed to give the people the best service possible. He believed that the Railways Department’s differential rates did cause some hardship for coastal shipping. For instance, a truck of coal could be railed from Greymouth to Dunedin for the same freight as from Greymouth to Timaru. To charge uneconomic rates in order to get trade was foolish. The Coordination Council would be composed of experts from each transport service. They would advise the Government as to which was the best transport service to put on in order to meet the public needs. While coastal shipping must be safeguarded goods must be transported by the cheapest means.

Decline in Coastal Shipping Mr 8. W. Smith (National, Bay of Islands) agreed with the Minister on the need for co-ordination. He could think of nothing better than the suggested Co-ordination Council, provided it acted in accordance with the recommendation in the report under discussion—that no regulation or restriction should be placed on any form of transport merely to benefit another form. The test must be public interest. The decline in coastal shipping was indicated by the fact that In 1919 there were 314 vessels trading on the New Zealand coast, employing 2498 seamen. In 1939 the figures were 140 vessels with 1668 men, and last year 114 vessels with 1341 men. The figures indi-_ cated that the decline was not sub-’ stantially due to the war. It was commonly argued that a vast amount had been invested in railway construction in New Zealand, but large sums had also gone into the construction of coastal harbour facilities. Mr Smith said that in his district before the railway opened shipping freights were high and the shipping companies paid good dividends. Since the advent of the railways freights had been lowered, but settlers were apprehensive lest the railway should force shipping out of business and then raise railway freights. A Co-ordination Council such as the Minister had discussed should be a permanent authority and approach the problem front a national and not a parochial viewpoint. Mr W. S. Goosman (National, Waikato) said the idea of setting up a council for the co-ordination of transport was the best way of dealing with the present situation, which became more and more of a problem as time went on. Some way must be found of retaining sea and rail transport and something would have to be done to ensure that both services would be used to the best advantage without indulging in cut-throat competition. He suggested that the railways were being used in such competition to cut out sea transport. Scientific Investigation

Tne Hon R. Semple said it was not the intention or the design of the Railways Department to destroy shipping transport. As the population of the country grew and spread so did the problem of transport Increase From the few years’ experience he had ol road and rail transport he considered that no Minister of the Crown had the time or the opportunity' to co-ordinate these services. The whole question needed a close, complete and scientific investigation by those who knew the particular problems involved so that co-ordination could be effected without one service destroying the other. Mr W. Sullivan < National. Bar of Plentvt said the report stated there was widespread competition between rail and shipping services, parti’ularly in the North Auckland and Bay of plenty districts. The truck system, he considered, was introduced by the railways to take away freights from the shipping companies which had added a further rating burden on that already carried by ratepapvers in port towns and cities. He quoted from the report figures which gave the percentage of the decrease in shipping in the following ports between 1925 and 1938 Hokianga 41. Kaioara 28. Thames 60, Tauranga 60. Wairoa 73. Waitara 93, New Plymouth 50. The position was causing concern to the smaller harbour boards especially in the North Island. He contended that It was necessary for the ports to remain to assist in the development of the affected districts. The territory between Tauranga and Gisborne was almost entirely dependent on coastal shipning. If the Minister could find ways and means of keeping coastal shipping services to those parts of the country where the sen ice was required he would be doing a very great thing. Mr P. Carr (Govt.. Auckland West! said if there was more co-operation from the shipping companies there would not be so much freight comnetition. Ships, he said, bunkered bituminous coal in Auckland sufficient for the round trip to the South Island and back, which seemed to indicate that thev desired to take coal away from the railways and gas company. The sliins concerned could bunker in Lyttelton. He felt he could not be concerned with the shipping companies because their profits were not returned to the country but went into the pockets of the shareholders. Mr F. W. Doidae 'National Tauranga) said the crux of the matter was co-ordination. Everything should be done Io give every form of transport a fair chance. There was a danger of coastal ports which had built tin first-class coastal shipping facilities becoming derelict. The debate was interrupted at 5.30