TRANSPORT BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1929, Page 1

TRANSPORT BILL

MANY CLAUSES DROPPED. •MINISTER E'XPL AIN'S POSITION. WELLINGTON, November G. ‘‘l am-in an unfortunate position, but I must face it in a sporting spirit,” declared the Hon. W. A. Yeitch, Minister of Transport, when the Transport Rill was reported from the Select Committee with only trifling amendments, but the Minister had tq announce that owing to opposition and the lateness of the session lie would only ask for the passage of the clauses setting up the Department of Transport. Mr Yeitch said that it was a good Bill seeking co-ordination of transport and the opposition was due entirely to a misunderstanding of its functions. However, he had to yield at the last moment of the session to the opposition and lie was not complaining, though the Bill was strongly desired by a section of the people. With the altered Bill the Transport Advisory Council must go, unless the House was prepared to pass extended licensing powers. He had been prepared to submit an amended clause that- the existing licensing authorities in the big centres should remain practically as they were and new licensing authorities be created in other parts of the Dominion. He was disappointed that he was not in a position to get that power, as it would hinder the work he had undertaken in ' organising transport.

Mr Coates suggested that there was no more important question for Parliament to consider, but lie had been critical of the Advisory Council’s constitution which inadequately represented two principal fators, the ratepayer and the motor taxpayer. He was firmly convinced that as' originally constituted it was not* capable of dealing broadly with the national interest. He bad no objection to the new department if it promptly got to work compiling the whole of the facts. Would the Minister set up a commission for tho purpose ? < Mr Veitch: No, I don’t believe in a commission. Mr Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, laughingly remarked on the Opposition Leader’s advocacy of the public interest as against that of the individual. It was a sign of improvement. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South): He is turning red. Mr FI. S. S. Kyle (Ricearton) advised the Minister to scrap the whole Bill till next session. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) hoped the Minister would, carry through his plan and not allow his disappointment to cause, the whole Bill to ho jettisoned. The setting up of the new department would pave the way for the more extensive measure for which everyone asked. Keen regret at the position was voiced by Mr A. Harris (Waitemata), who considered that the Bill was the best one of the session. It. repealed the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, with its iniquitous provision that local bodies owning transport services had the sole right to decide who should

compete. “.It will be a thousand pities if this Bill is dropped.” remarked Air G. C. Munns (RoskilL, who was concerned over the Auckland transport conditions. Mr j). G. Sullivan (Avon) supported the suggestion that the Minister should 1,0 given the power lie desired because there was considerable scope for the new department. Next session the Minister should take notice of the obvious feeling of Parliament that the public interest must be the dominant factor on the Advisory Council.