REGULATION AND DIRECTION OF TRANSPORT

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3554, 6 December 1934, Page 3

REGULATION AND DIRECTION OF TRANSPORT

MR S A.vGOLDINGHAM, MANAGING OF THE HIGHWAYS TRANSPORT CO., LTD., PALMERSTON NORTH> RECOUNTS HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE CALIFORNIAN SYSTEM.

DURING my stay of actually six weeks in California, I took the opportunity of having several interviews with the Railroad Commission, and I found their secretary and other officials very obliging, and ready to supply any information asked for.

THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT OF THE (STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

ure is much the same as in New Zealand, but the application is heard publicly, by a Commissioner and/or an Examiner, Who, needless to say, are expert transport officials. After the hearing, the evidence is submitted by the reporting department to the Commission, who make all decisions. There is of course, provision for any case to be reheard.

JJiHIS really means the Rail and (Road Commission of the State and provides for the organisation of the Railroad Commission, and for the control of every common carrier, pipeline, gas, electrical, telephone and telegraph corporations, wharfinger, food warehouseman and heat corporations, in fact, all services provided for and delivered to the public. I was particularly ►interested' to see the term “ confmon carrier ” defined in the Act to include railways, street cars, forwarding agents, shipping, car renting and express delivery; in fact, everything to do with transport except by a*Jr. % •' M ,*..../ ~, . • v : •' 'Ti' V' 1 ' * /> THE) RAILROAD COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

There is also no sufch thing as “.tenure” in the license, it simply carries on, provided the operator has conducted his business within the terms of his license. At the end of ever]y year, it is necessary to furnish a complete return of operations, this, however, is similar to our own Statement of Financial and Statistical Data.

V ~AII rates are controlled by the commission, and even under N.R.A. code of fair competition for the trucking industry, it provides machinery for self-regulation of rates.

The main office, situated in San Francisco, comprises a Board of five Commjissioners and five Examiners and a Secretary. Administration is divided into nine departments, including rates, financial, recording, transportation, research, safety and three engineering departments.

VEHICLES. I noticed a very large percentage, in fact, pi’actically all the new trucks were of the semi-trailer type. The trailer units sometimes being fourwheelers, and very often the motor units, six-wheelers. The ordinary type of six-wheeler does not appear to be very popular for ordinary highway running. I also took the opportunity of calling on a truck manufacturer who is fitting Deisel engines. These now seem to be past the experimental stage, and have a large number of units running very successfully. I was interested to note that these trucks were not subject to taxation, there being no mileage tax, and no fuel tax on oil.

OBSERVATIONS AND IMPRESSIONS.

.Motor transport probably occupies the attention of the Commission more than any other industry under its control. I got the impression from road and rail operators that the administration was working quite satisfactorily. lam also under the impression that they have reached a stage far in advance of any other state or country in the world, in the control and regulation of transport. In applying for licenses the proceed-