Minister Asked To Be Less Vague

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1946, Page 8

Minister Asked To Be Less Vague

-Press Assiociation

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. Although. road. transport and carriers' organisations fiad no coxmnent to make yesterday on the Government's transport policy, an article in ,Transport News, the organ of transport interests in New Zealand, seeks clarification of the statement that the Government would take over services "where necessary and desirahle," and descrihes the Government policy as disguised nationalisation, Eight major points in the Government's future transport policy have been announced by the Minister of Transport (Mr. O'Brien). They include public owuership and operation of services where that "is necessary and desirable in the publie interest. " The eight points are: The eonstruction of modern trans-; port facilities best suited to meet the needs of national production, standards; of life, and defence. ! The development of public road pas-, senger services so that adequate and cheap travel is available to all for both essential and recreational purposes. i The provision of road freight services so that proinpt and cheap collection and delivery services for all classes of goods are available throughout the country. The public ownership and operation of road transport services in tliose cases where such is necessary and desirable in the public interest. The eoordination of all forms oi public transport — road, rail, sea and air — so that New Zealand shall have the most eiiicient national transportation system possible. The preservation to the individuai of the unrestricted right to own and operate his own means of transport for his private and domestie use. A coniprehensive and progressive road safety policy to ensure maximum safety for ali road users. The Government would ensure that all inventious and the discoveries of science in the field of transport should be available to New Zealanders to aid them in their efforts to attain an even higlier standard of life. The Minister gave the information in reply to a request for details of the policy from the New Zealand Carriers' Federation and the New Zealand Koad Transport Allianee. In releasing the statement for general information, the Minister said the report of the Transport Development C'ommittee, recommending steps considered necessary for the eifeetive eoordination of all forms of transport, was still being considered by Cabinet and the Government. Clarification Necessary. Transport News states that the vital clause in the Minister 's statement is that which says "the public ownership and operation of road transport services in those cases where such is necessary and desirable in the public interest." That clause leaves entirely uusaid wliat is really meaut or intended, says the article, which asks v.'lio could interpret what the Government holds in prospect wlien such a vagueJv stated qualilication is added as ' ' wlien such is necessary and desirable' in the public interest." The Government and those who have a sway in the political sphere seelc to disguise nationausation by ofi'ering "necessary or desirable" excuses, continues the article. What cannot be disguised is the steady undermining of the whole service- that is takiug place as the Government's slow penetration method moves towards the creation of a natioualised monopoly. The grip already lield over the railways aml ajr services is being tightened as road transport is strangled by regulatory controls and the cunningly devised network of interfering Government Departments. When the Minister talks about "the public ownership and operation of road. transport" he should go on to explain by whom and by what method he would decide the cases where it is "necessary or desirable," says the article. Would he allow the public to say by vote on a proposed service or would he leave it to some appointee of his pwn to decide?