ROAD TRANSPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20043, 15 September 1939, Page 3

ROAD TRANSPORT

WAR-TIME PLAN CO-ORDINATION SCHEME MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY CARRIERS AND TAXI-MEN PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT (Pm Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.

The Government aims to bring ail forms of public motor transport under a uniform system of national control as a first step in its plan for organising road transport on a basis of maximum efficiency to serve the Dominion during the war period, according to the Minister of Tiansport, the Hon. R. Semple, in a statement issued last night. This step has been taken, said Mr. Semple, in recent transport legislation, which brings town carriers and taxi services under the provisions of the Transport Licensing Act. All persons and firms engaged in both these classes of motor transport are required to lodge applications for licenses straight away. The necessary application forms were beim: distributed through the appropriate channels, said the Minister. All Forms of Transport The next and most important step, he continued, was the organisation and co-ordination of all forms . of public motor, passenger and freight transport services on a basis of maximum efficiency. “I have been in close consultation with representatives of various branches of public motor transport in the matter,” he continued, “and they have come forward in a wonderful spirit of national service. They assured me that they are ready and willing to offer the services of their organisations to the Government and of "doing everything in their power to -make the road transport industry fully efficient to meet the demands that may be required of it. The Government has decided to accept this generous offer, and immediately I am setting up district coordinating committees, which will work ouUco-ordinatcd schemes among all classes of public motor services. They will consist of representatives of each of the motor transport interests, Railway Department and the Transport Department, and will be located at Whangarei, Auckland, Hamiiton, Whakatane, Gisborne, Taumarunui, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Hastings, Masterton Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Alexandra and Invercargill. Area Operators “The committees will consider schemes immediately for co-ordina-tion of the area operators, town carriers and taxi services, in their districts. . Road transport organisations aie calling, meetings throughout the Dominion immediately to acquaint operators with the plan and to select tneir representatives on the committees. “It is also proposed,” said _ Mr. Semple, “to set up a national advisory committee consisting of , representatives of the road transport industry. Railway Department and Transport Department to advise the Mirustei and district committees on various matters in order to ensure the fullest measure of co-operation. It is proposed that there should be one association for each class of operator m each district with whatever branches that are considered necessary. “While I feel,” , continued Mr. Semple, “that these proposals will be advantageous to both the general community and industry in normal times, the fact that We are at war makes them of the utmost importance in the national interest. My experience with the road transport industry gives me every confidence that it will rise to the occasion. I would like to assure the whole industry that the Government has no desire to dictate to it, but wishes to act in the fullest possible consultation and co-operation with every section of it.”