Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1932, Page 4

There is a general fear among owners of transport services that further interference would result to their enterprises by the proposed new regulations affecting the control of the services which it is reported that the 'Government are considering. These Tears were-, voiced by a. deputation which waited on the acting Minister of Trans- , port last week when it was stated that it was understood the regulations being framed would give, the Transport Department the right to put certain services off the road with the object of restricting competition, and motortruck vendors were considerably perturbed}. Although he did not want to discuss the regulations, he said he wanted to ask for an assurance from the Minister that the regulations would be circulated among vendors before they were actually gazetted so that they would have a chance of. stating their opinions. The vendors were "'suffering severely as it was, and any .further financial strain would be'most difficult. It was stated that passenger services have been brought under control as the result of the passing of the Transport Licensing Act t and regular tions are at present being framed to bring about the supervision of goods services. The Government was of the opinion that the regulations would be as much in the inter.-sts of operatoT. as anyone, and had it been thought the regulations would be of no real advantage, the Government would not have both'red about them at all. The Minister -said he was sure any regulations issued would be as much in the interest- of the motor trade as anyone else. People who wei’e carrying on transport services, whether for passengers or goods, at a cost above an economic level, would have to have their cases investigated, for soni-a”'' had to pay for the high costs which were being run up in wasteful competition. The m^tor 1 p'id as much as anyone in meot'ng this undue The primary object of the depa •Ament 'was to prevent inflicting hardship upon anyone at a l. It was qujt-v possible that when the regulations came into force some services would be discontinued, hut it had been definitely stated in a memo. ■■ he had that as soon as Cabinet had _ k

approved of the. regulations various 1 interests should bo given a chance Pf stating tlreir opinions. No doubt a special sub-committee of Cabinet would go into the regulations before they were passed. A spqcw.l state*; rnent wc-uid be prepared for publication in order that •' thosek • concernedwould understand the import of the proposals. •