U.S. Geographer Criticises N.Z. Road And Rail Transport

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 17

U.S. Geographer Criticises N.Z. Road And Rail Transport

New Zealand’s road and rail transport systems need a complete review. Neither the road nor rail system is as modern or efficient as possible. These opinions were expressed in Christchurch yesterday by a visiting American geographer. Professor H. M. Mayer, of the University of Chicago. Professor Mayer has been in New Zealand for two months, and he will stay till November. He is here on a Fulbright exchange grant.

The railway passenger facilities were atrocious, he said. “They are among the worst in the world.”

Passenger train schedules were organised for the convenience of the railway system and not the travellers. It was quite senseless that passengers travelling from Auckland to Christchurch had to spend a day in Wellington before boarding the steamer to Lyttelton. The 30-mile restriction on road transport was overemphasised, he said. “You have a railway system that is not paying its way, and a highway system that is equal to that of the United States in the 1920’5.” New Zealand could not offer size as an excuse for the lack of efficiency or success of its transport systems, said Professor Mayer. By protecting an inefficient railway system the country had railways and roads that were not up to standard. Future transport policy

should be decided in a national review. Because New Zealand’s sources of capital investment were limited. a policy of emphasis on one of the two systems should be found. “Some system of allocation and emphasis is needed,” he said. Railway schedules could be readjusted to provide for the demands of the traveller. Such a readjustment would probably bring more trade to the railways. Professor Mayer said it was not his intention to be destructive in his criticism of New Zealand. He wished to learn of its problems and to inform geographers and others of what had been learned in the United States. The four New Zealand main centres he had visited were beginning to have the problems of transport that had faced American cities. Off-street parking was necessary to retain a lively commercial and business centre of a city. It could not be over-emphasised, he said. Many persons were unaware of the potential competition that out-of-town business and commercial centres could make. City traffic problems had to be eliminated if a shift of business from the centre of a city was to be prevented. Double parking should be prohibited, and commercial deliveries restricted to nonbusiness hours to allow better access to the city and a less restricted flow of traffic. Evening parking at the kerbside should be restricted to ease the flow of traffic and give a better appearance to commercial areas. Business Areas Business areas in New Zealand cities were generally dull and uninspiring. There was a definite need for im? proving the appearance of shops and offices. Professor Mayer deplored “the random placing of advertising signs on shop verandas and the dull appearance of streets with row* of poorly-designed banners."' He suggested that businessmen should agree on the type and style of advertising signs to give streets a better appearance and a more attractive environment to the shopper. This had been done in the United States. As well as improving the appearance of centres, easing traffic and modernising buildings, better selling technique* could be employed to prevent any shift to the suburbs. More aggressive merchandising methods, more mechanisation to lower costa to the consumer, extended hour* to give greater convenience to the consumer, and other new methods would all help

to keep business centres alive. l- ' ‘ >■ s'.Many persons realised the dangers of urban sprawl, and town-planning organisations were at work to direct and co-ordinate building activities. This showed an awareness by the New . Zealand public of many urban problems; but more guidance and reorganisation Were needed, said Professor Mayer. Professor Mayer will spend the next 10 days in Christchurch meeting members' of the Regional Planning Authority, university geographers, and others before returning to Auckland, where he will spend the rest' of the year.