The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1932. TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1932. TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

An interesting address on transport facilities was given during the week at Christchurch by Mr J. S. Hunter, commissioner of transport, on the subject of transport facilities of the Dominion, in. which lie pointed out that the magnitude of the problem of transport to-day amply warrants the State .taking steps to eliminate the waste arising from unregulated competition in transport services. With a view to the elimination of wasteful competition, which had been the principal factor in keeping internal transport costs in this country at au mord'ir.htel J and unnecessarily <high level, Pair,L 'cent in 1931 had passed the Transport Licensing Act, which provided machinery for control by a system- of lleen.ni g all public motor

1 passenger and goods services, said Mr Hunter. As from March, 1932, the parts of the Act relating to public passenger devices had been in operation, while at the present time consideration was being given to the question of licensing goods motor vehicles. The relation between the (annual value of national production is a useful and convenient method of getting a long range view of the effects of the development in trails-, port services in- recent years. In a comparison quoted it was pointed out that while there had been a considerable drop in the value of national production, transport costs had continued to increase, the percentage of increase from 35 per cent, in 1929 to 45.2 per cent, in 1931 giving an idea of the seriousness of the position. The prosperity of New Zealand was wrapped up with -the fact that many heavy and bulky commodities, such as manures, live stock, etc., were carried at relatively low rates. While the nail ways had competition from motor traffic they were also being faced with increasing competition from coastal shipping in the field of the longer hauls. The question emerged whether the country could afford to allow 'the £60,009,090 of capital sunk in railways, which was still in the form cif unliquidated debt, to be deprived of its earning power. We tare forced to admit that the magnitude ■and importance of the problem of transport amply warrants the State taking steps to eliminate the waste arising from unregulated competition in transport services.” It had been demonstrated that the problem was serious, and its effects on the general economic position had to be considered. The fact of covered up costs obscured the real effect on the taxpayers and ratepayers. The problem of publicly and privately-owned transport, hijdl to be treated as a whole. In the Dominion £6,000,000 a year was spent on, roads, and a. proper basis of reasonable taxation had to he found. Direct motor taxation found £2,000,000 of this, and in good years the Customs duty found £1,000,000, though this year it had found only £250,000. Local bodies- provided about, another £2,000,00, and the remainder was found by the general taxpayer. In Great Britain, of the £60,000,000 spent, £57,500,000 was raised by direct motor taxation. It was clear that the total motor taxation was not covering the annual expenditure, and Mr Hunter suggested that this problem! called for immediate investigation by the interested parties. Tlie Department’s own investigations' showed that it was impossible to continue as ■ they had been doing. Thebe ■ were instances in New Zealand' of due transport facility being developed alongside another. That opened up the very important question whether there were not too many authorities with statutory powers for independent action. It should bo considered whether these authorities should not he co-ordinated with the object of economic utilisation .of trains, boats,', and motor transport. Older countries had set up- special machinery to deal with the transport problem, and a start had been made in New Zealand, and a chaotic position had been laid bn re. •