TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1928, Page 1

TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

MOTOR PROFITS RETURNS, fly Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. WELLINGTON. May 2. Ti: connection with the inquiry now being undertaken by tbe Government into tbe transport systems of the Dominions, the Prime Minister (Et. HOll. J. (}. Coates) announced to-day that it has jboen decided to collect regular and systematic statistics in regard to the commercial motor transport, services. The returns, which will he treato.l as confidential, will he made for the traffic in one month of each quarter in the case of organised services running over defined routes ; and annually in tlm ease of private business ears and irregular loiig-distanee trips,

The Committee consists of the Permanent Hoads of the- Public Works Department, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Railway Department, and the Marine Department (the principal Departments of the State concerned in transport). The Committee was set up to compile these statistics, with whom are associated the Government Statistician and representatives of the Prime Minister's Deliartment.

„ fsiicli an inquiry, which Ims not pre- • viously been inado, may disclose a needless duplication and overlapping of the means of transport, especially in the proposals for the future. For example, one case would be a duplication of parallel roads and railways, possibly in some cases where a firstclass road would adequately meet all requirements, and save the taxpayer the cost of the railway and its operation. The most suitable months suggested for collection were January. April. July and October. As April is just passed, the next collection will ,'be for the month of May, which, while representative of this quarter, would also Shave the advantage of being six months from the last collection in November.

“it has been tlecided, however, that these regular collections should ho confined to organised services running over defined routes. The Government .Statistician was accordingly instructed to take the necessary steps for the May and future collections. The preparations are well advanced. The Government wish to make it dear that these returns will rot be used for any departmental purpose. Individual returns will be held in the strictest confidence by the Government statistician, and only the combined result will be made available to tbe Transport Committee and tbe general public. The Prime Minister says; “I would appeal to the motor owners engaged in (lie transport business to assist the work of the committee by supplying the returns as promptly and fully as possible.”