MOTOR TRANSPORT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 70, 15 December 1921, Page 8

MOTOR TRANSPORT

COMPETING WITH THE RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT CONSIDERING THE POSITION Mr. E. Newman (Manuwatu) asked in the House of Rep'resentatiives if the Government intended to revise the way tariff in order to secure business that at present was going to the motors. He said that benzine was being carried from Wellington to the Alaiiawatu district by motor lorry for 2s. a case, as against 2s. 6d. a ease on the railways. Butter and wool were also carried more cheaply by road than by rail. 'This was bad for the railways, and also bad for the local bodies charged with the maintenance of the roads. The Minister of Railways (Hon. D. 11. Guthrie) replied that the matter was under consideration. The facts had been brought liefore the Railway Department. Motor lorries were competing with the railways in many districts throughout New Zealand. They were carrying wool and produce from the stations to the ports, and were also competing between stations. Motors were carrying gers in competition with the railways at some points. They were doing a lot of business between Wanganui .and Marton. for example, but an attempt to recapture this traffic for the railways would involve the speeding up of trains at high cost. Some people were of opinion that motor traffic on tlie roads was going to compete with the railways to a very large extent in tbe future. It was the duty of the Government to see what could be done to keep the "ailways going. (