BIG PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 135, 12 June 1929, Page 10

BIG PROBLEMS

TRANSPORT SERVICES

TAXATION QUESTION

DECISION DEFERRED

Important aspects of the transport problem in New Zealand were dealt with by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. \V. A. Veiteh) at the inaugural meeting of the Transport Advisory Council to-day. Mr. Veiteh announced that the Government had decided to postpone consideration of the question of motor taxation until such time •. as further statistical information was available and the country's financial position was improved. Mr. R. Masters presided, and other members present were:. Messrs. H. C. Jones (Auckland), representing the I North Island Motor Union; G. A. Troup (Wellington), representing the New ! Zealand Municipal Association; E. Smith (Christehurch), representing the New Zealand Master Carriers' Association; H. L. Rogers (Wellington), representing the wholesale and retail motor trades of New Zealand; A. Parlane (Wellington), representing labour engaged in transport work; W. Morrison (Maxwell), representing the New Zealand Counties Association; H. J. Knight (Wellington), representing the service car proprietors; L. A. Lonergan (Wellington), representing the motor omnibus proprietors; and Mr. J. S. Hunter (Commissioner of Transport). The only member of the council not present was Mr. H. Halliday (Dunedin), the representative of the South Island Motor Union, who was delayed by the late ar- 1 rival of the ferry steamer.

In welcoming members of the council, Mr. Masters said that the council was a most important body, although not so important to-day as it was likely to be in the near future. The council was constituted in such a way that he felt confident they .would be able to give assistance to the Government in the problems and difficulties that would arise from time to time in regard to motor transport'in New Zealand. After all, any problems or difficulties which arose were merely opportunities for. them to do something which would help the Government. Mr. Masters said they were particularly fortunate in the .Minister they had in charge of the Department. Mr. Veitch was. a very old friend of his, and he knew the,interest he took in any matter which be took under his wing. Moreover, Mr. "Veitch was a very capable administrator indeed. Their Commissioner was also a very able officer, and had made a special study of the transport question, a fact which should make him very helpful to ihem. Mr. Masters remarked on the fact that he was the' only member of the council who was not connected with the transport industry, directly or indirectly; and he wanted to be quite frank in telling them he knew very little about the question. That might be an advantage or it might not, but it would be his aim to do the utmost to master the questions that would come before the council and to give all the assistance ho could. INTEREST OF PUBLIC.

Mr. Veitch said the council had been selected in a somewhat peculiar way to do a very special work. Its constitution had been subjected to quite- a lot of criticism, which after all was wholesome and healthy, and all to the good. Such criticism' attracted attention ■ to the council and proved that the public were actively interested in "the" 'problems that would have to be dealt-with. It also proved that the public' realised the need for such a Department as had been created, and for a council to give it advice. The .principle laid down by him in determining the constitution of the council had been as followed; it was not intended that it should be a well-balanced conflict of interests or a well-balanced struggle between conflicting interests. It was intended to be— and ho sincerely believed it was—a council consisting of .men who had knowledge and experience of' the motor transport business in all its phases. Tho gentlemen sitting at the council table could speak as exports on every feature of the transport problem that could come before the council. "He knew that every member would rise far above sectional interests, and would consider eyery problem from a national point of view. ■■'.•■ . : TAXATION PROBLEM. "Perhaps you will,be a -little dis-! appointed that the question of motor taxation is not being brought before you at this inaugural meeting," said ■the Minister. •"Tho reason for that is that there are several other more urgent problems calling for attention. Those problems are laid down on the agenda paper, which will be referred to you by the chairman presently. The position we are in in regard to motor taxation iis that all motor taxation, except heavy traffic fees, is provided for in the law itself. Therefore,-we cannot deal withany feature of motor taxation, except heavy traffic fees, until Parliament meets.'. I think it will "appeal to your common-sense that it would not be a wise thing to make a decision on any feature of motor taxation, such as heavy traffic fees, when you are unable to deal with other features. 'So the Government decided, in view of the position with which we are confronted, to make heavy traffic fees payable quarterly in advance instead of annually. That leaves it open for us to make any concession or. increase in regard to any feature of motor taxation, and to do it all at once. Furthermore; we are not yet in possession of sufficient statistical information- to enable us to arrive at a decision that would finally prove to be equitable. There is the additional consideration. '■■ that during the last financial year the Consolidated Fund was ;not in a very wholesome conditioii. At 31st March last there was disclosed a deficit of considerably over £500,000, so the extent to which the Government will be able to Jiake alterations or concessions in motor taxation geaerally will depend, very largely on the state of the finances: of the country, say, six months from now. Those are the reasons which lod the Government to postpone- its decision, for the present, aiid no harm can be done by that postponement." PULLING TOGETHER. Mr. Veitclt went on to- say he had been rather sorry to read some of the Press controversy which had taken place on the question of motor transport. So far as the Government was concerned, discussion and criticism of its proposals wore welcomed, and he himself had no grievance. But anything in the form of sectional controversy was very apt to. cloud the real issues. Mr. Veiteh asked if he might presume to suggest to all parties concerned in the transport industry that as. far as possible sectional • controversy be avoided altogether. Strife was injurious to any cause, and the real way to lift motor transport into its legitimate position in the scheme of things in New Zealand was for all concerned to pull together just as closely as ever they could in a spirit of goodwill.

The Minister said he found it necessary to make an explanation of the workers' representative on the council (Mr. A. Parlane). It appeared to have got into the public mind that Mr. Parlane had been, appointed as a representative of a political section of

the people oi- of a .particular inaiis* trial section. The principle laid dowa in the appointment' of a workers' representative was that every section! of the people engaged .in the transport industry was entitled to 'be representjed oh the council." Surely the wage- ! earners engaged in the industry were entitled to a spokesman at the council .table. Mr. Parlane was there as a representative of the wage-earners employed in the transport industry. PLACE OF THE RAILWAYS.

"The general position of transport in New Zealand:is one of tremendous importance," the Minister went on t^ say.. "The first impression thas settled in the public mind in regard toj the motor transport, problem Tvas tha.H it was^ going' to resolve itself into ai struggle between the Railway Department and the transport services. I sincerely believe that that is not thaj case. I am quite certain that •' motoij transport will never supplant the Bail* way Department nor will the KailwajiJ Department ever oust the motor seivices from the transport business. Nor] is there any reason why either-should l attempt to do anything ■of the kind. So far as long-distance transport i^ concerned, there is a great future for the New Zealand Railway - Department." Mr. Veitch said "that Ne^j Zealand was rapidly returning to a period of prosperity. They were going into a big forward movement in New Zealand, in which primary production would.rise .to a higher altitude than if; had ever risen before, and secondary, industries would also play their part. There was going to be ample room for the railway services and the transport services to take a hand in the great forward movement. . ... 4

So far as the Government was concerned, the motor was entitled to its place in the general advancement, and no attempt would b&.made to suppress it in any way in tho interests of the Railway Department or any other Department. There was work for the council td do for years ahead, said J||L Veitch, and he believed that by tlto exercise of a little common-sense the council could do a very great deal to help to develop tho Dominion.

On behalf of the members of ths council, Mr. T^oup thanked .the Minister for his remarks and assured Mns that it would be their aim to wor^ not on!y in the interests of thqse thej^ represented but in the interests o*s. New Zealand as a whole. \ ..: