The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1931. TRANSPORT PROBLEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1931. TRANSPORT PROBLEMS.

Not the least important or the lease difficult task of the newly-constituted Railways Board, considers an exchange, will be that of establishing some balance between rail and motor transport. The competition of private-ly-owned motor vehicle services is seriously affecting the traffic, and consequently the revenue, of the railways. The most damaging feature of this competition, as it concerns the railways, is that on many routes, particularly where the roads are good, buses are skimming the cream of tiie traffic 'and leaving the railways to carry minimum-paying freights mat cannot conveniently be transported by motor vehicle. The problem is one that has exercised the minds of the railways authorities in all countries in which good highways exist to invite enterprising companies to enter into competition with the old-established railroad 'services. Unfor'Diuiately, although transport organisations have fully ventilated their grievances and opinions, no economic scheme has yet been established for relieving the railways from, a burden that is everywhere proving prejudicial to their interests. An indication of the extent by which road competition has increased in recent years is afforded in figures relating to transport in the United States. In 1923 a total of 1.008,537,803 passengers was conveyed by rail, and in 192!) this number was reduced to 780,432,'168. Railway passenger receipts.’which in 1929 were less by some £80.000.000 titan in 1920, reflect the decline of the railways in popularity. Motor transport has shown a rapid increase of activity in the same period. 1 Motor trucks in service in the United I states in 1920 numbered about a rail-

lion, and in 1929 nearly thfee and a-half millions, an increase of 237 per cent., while in the same period commercial buses soliciting passenger business increased in number by 825 per cent, to 92,509. The situation thus created has very' seriously affected many railroad oompa.hics in America. In some (Cases railway services are

being carried on at a loss in the hope than ail improvement may occur, while other railroad managements are engaging cn large dale motor-transport operations with the effect of offsetting their losses on the permanent way. In Great Britain the rivalry between railway and motor coach companies Inis assumed very considerable proportions, one of the main difficulties with which the railway owners have to contend being that the motor companies find it possible, to cut fares, in many cases by 25 to .50 pet - cent, below those charged by the railways for similar service. All applications for motor transport licenses are vigorously opposed by representatives of the railway interests, but so far there does not, appear to be nhy definitely-estab-lished ruling that might govern the (lehiniohs of the licensing authorities. It, was argued recently by the representative of one motor transport company that “the railways showed no mercy when they pushed the old stage coaches off. the road,” and cannot expect better treatment now from the motor coach companies. The danger of allowing unrestricted motor competition while the abilities of motor transport adequately to replace rail ways as a public utility are in doubt, is better emphasised in a statement cl an American commission, which shov,

ed that whereas a railway company is often compelled by law, and always by its desire to survive, to continue its services in face of constant deficits, a motor company, with a comparatively small capital, can cease to operate at will or, provided a new franchise is obtainable, change the scene of its operations practically overnight. Hie necessity for the supervision and regulation of highway transportation, or the co-ordination of rail and road services. is apparent, but, while it is recognised, no country appears as yet to liavt* formulated an effective scheme. The difficulty is that, while the obvious disadvantages of the railways in i.wmpeting with motor vehicles in certain lucrative types of transport business are acknowledged, and it is generally admitted that some form of relief should he secured, it must also he recognised that motor transport -s serving the public well in many respects. frequently at smaller charges than the railways can afford to levy, A system of co-ordination of the services stems' to he the only effective solution of the problem, and it is possible that in New Zealand, where motor competition is as yet a considerably less formidable enemy of the railways than in some other countries, a settlement might be achieved in that direction without any great injustice being done.