COMPETING WITH RAILWAY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17927, 1 July 1930, Page 8

COMPETING WITH RAILWAY.

STOP PRESS:

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

FIRM REPLY GIVEN

(By Telegrapn.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 1.

A deputation of Master Carriers to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. A. Veiteh, to-day protested against interference with their business by the Railway Department, both in regard to Customs-house work and general carrying. The deputation stated that it w'as rumoured that the Railway Department intended to put nine lorries on the road in competition with the carriers.

Replying, the Minister said the Government realised the need for cooperation between all forms of transport: He denied that the Department was putting lorries on the road, but stated that the Government might deem it necessary to. enter into active competition, with private transport concerns competing unfairly with the railways. Where the railways could serve the people better than the road transport they should have the business.' Where the road transport could serve better than the railways it should get the business. He was firmly convinced that the coming Transport Bill would make for common-sense co-operation -between road and railway transport. As Minister of Railways he had to keep the losses down to an absolute minimum, and for that reason he could make a definite proraise with regard to the ; transport activities of the Department. ; , .