ROAD TRANSPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20085, 2 March 1928, Page 7

ROAD TRANSPORT

RAILWAY ENTERPRISE Room of Commons Carries Second Reading MEETING COMPETITION Telegraph—Per -vsan.—Gopyrigaid Received March. 1, 7.55 p.m. jrA.P-A.Sun) LONDON, Feb. 29. The of Commons continued th a railway debate. Mr A. K. Kennedy expressed the •pinion that the railways were seeking the statutory right to go on the roads to the exclusion of competitors. Their complaint regarding the rate burden was a pretence. The railways aggregate rate worked out at l/40d per ton per mile of goudts carried. Colonel W. W. Ashley said no new principle was involved. The railways were simply seeking an extension of the existing powers to participate in road traffic. The railways were taking an increasing part in road traffic in every country, and he knew of no case of a rigid refusal to give sucti powers. It was a world problem, and was being dealt with in different ways in different countries. Colonel Ashley agreed there were objections to monopoly powers, and he did not regard the Bills’ safeguards against them as adequate. He would propose amendments to strengthen them, obliging the railways to obtain the Ministry of Transport’s sanction to institute or withdraw services, but there was no reason why the Bills shouk* not be read a second time. Mr J. H. Thomas said the railwaymen feared their standard of living might be lowered by the compensation of other transport workers. The interests of both the railwaymen and the companies would be served by passing the Bills. The amendment was negatived by 199 votes to 42 and the Bills were read a second time.