IN LINE WITH POLICY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 9

IN LINE WITH POLICY

CLEARLY DEFINED STATE SOCIALISM “The attention of the public should be directed to the policy of the Government, which is definitely in the direction of wiping out individual private transport interests so as to give the industry over to transport monopolies, ultimately to become a State monopoly,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, in a statement at Pahiatua on Saturday. “This is in line with the Government’s clearlydefined policy of State Socialism.

“First of all, the Government announced that the reduction in road services was a war measure to conserve petrol supplies, but within a few days the very same Government announced a repeal of the petrol restrictions, but when the private transport operators asked if that meant that they would have their licenses back they were calmly told that such was not intended. This, it was stated, v/as because ‘it has become the settled policy of the Government to bring about a reduction in services. This has been achieved without compensation to the unfortunate operators, who bought their trucks and service, and who paid their license fees and other heavy charges. Sinking- Individuality

“Operators are being bluntly told by the transport dictators that unless they agree to combine with other in-’ terests and sink their individuality and independence they will have their licenses cancelled, in spite of the fact that! many of these licenses have as long as three years still to run. “Undoubtedly the public will in a great many cases receive poorer service as the result of the monopoly combinations, 1 and the public should be aware of the direction of the Government’s fixed. policy of creating monopolies and then converting them into State.enterprises. "In the course of my recent tours in the North Island I have heard deputations representing transport interests affected. The deputations made it clear that the operators are gravel} concerned at the attempts to coerce them into an organisation in which they have no faith, and which canno bring an improved public service. It is clear that the Government in this, as in other dictatorial dealings, has misjudged both the character and the temper of the people.’’