THE TRANSPORT PROBLEM.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17534, 16 October 1928, Page 9

THE TRANSPORT PROBLEM.

TRAINS AND MOTORS. ADDRESS BY MR STERLING. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, Monday. An address was delivered to-day to the Associated Chambers of Commerce by Mr H. Sterling, General Manager of Railways on the question of transport. Much of the dissatisfaction with the railways, said Mr Sterling, was not well grounded. Much of the matter spoken and published day to day propaganda by " get-rich quick Waillngfords" who were skinning off the cream of high class transport, and leaving the skim milk to the railways. Mr Sterling pom|d out that the Government could not adopt the uneconomic methods often resorted to by private enterprise in Buch cases, as a cry immediately arose of a monopoly. Mr Sterling, however, did not defend the methods taken by private enterprise to crush opposition; he. condemned them. The time had come for a national stocktaking in regard to transport. Motor transport had come to stay and it could undoubtedly render great service as a feeder to the railways, but as substitute ho contended it was absolutely Impossible, as was shown by the illuminating figures in the Public Works Statement. If the railways were closed down and % trust placed entirely in motors, the country would be up against, not only an'economic problem, but also a physical impossibility. Under present conditions motors' were' simply, preying on thtf community. It was his opinion that if they were made to pay a fair share towards the roads (which they were not doing at present) New Zealand would vrrlve at the solution of the transport problem.