WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

CONTROL OF TRANSPORT. UNIFICATION SUGGESTED. (Special Correspondent).. WELLINGTON, October 12. In the House ’of Representatives yesterday Mr A. E, Ansel 1, the Coalition member for Chalmers, after paying a 1 well earne compliment to the members of the National Expenditure Commission, turned to the problem of transport control with an emphasis which appeared to meet with very general approval. “I wish to make a definite suggestion to the Government for an improvement in its method of co-ordinating transport,” he said. “Voluntary co-ordination has been a failure, and in future we must have compulsory co-ordination. We should create a Transport Council of persons specially qualified through their knowledge of finance and - transport to report upon all matters relating to jjoads, raihvr's and even airways.” The duties of the Transport Department, he maintained, could well be undertaken by the Public Works Departent, there being, in his opinion, no need for tlie continued existence of a special departent. LABOUR’S VIEW.

- Mr W. Nash, the Labour member for Hutt, following the member for -Chalmers, wal not altogether in harmony with the proposal that the Trans, port Department, should be merged into, the Public Works Department. His view was that the Ministry of Transport should be set up and that the portfolio should be held, xiot as at ; present by a Minister holding several other biif by one who would devote his whole time to this Depni-t----meiit. The Minister of Transport should be chairman of a Transport ■Council controlling rail, road, air, and water in the public interests. The road Department, Mr Nash pictured, would take over the functions at present possessed by the Highways Board and would have complete control of the construction as well as maintenance of the roads. It also could consider the conversion of coal into electrical energy at the pithead, in' order td provide greater transport facilities. Taken all in all Labour was rfeprosentecr- by 'a- very attractive visionary. • • • Vs ' 1 PLAIN SPEECH.

A more poignant speech than those usually delivered by Mr Holland, the .Coalition member for Christchurch North, compelled the Hbu.se to give its attention at its evening sitting. “I notice with pleasure,” said , Mr Holland, scarcely looking the part he assumed, “that the National Expenditure Commission has reeomiiiended that the Traxispox-t Department should be transferred to the Public Works Department.; Whatever tlie failings' find faults of the. Public Works Department, it could ,not , have imposed harder or more uiireasona'ble conditions than the Transport Department has done. I have' always felt it to be my duty to stand' behind public officers ; but in this case I must voice my sentiments in regai'd to the Transport Department. As I have said, even the Public Works Department could not do more to cripple and ruin this counTy than this department has done.” And this by no means concluded Mr Holland's indictment.

OFFICTALISM. Having planted across the House and .rearranged his notes Mr. Holland resumed his harangue. It was unfair and. unbusinesslike, he said, for the Transport Department to come along , and say to people who had provided the roads . that. they were not to use them. Personally' he refused to believe that the farmers of New Zealand were so shortsighted as to use motor transport if more economical means were available. He quoted from a letter, said to have been written by a Government official, and addressed to alarmed settlers to: the effect that if his deparment had not the power to stop vehicles he would -see that such legislation was introduced . this session as would give the necessary authority. It was further stated that when a petition bearing, the signatures of over 600 -esidents in Havelock, asking for the continuance of a service, vas sent to the Prime Minister, an official declared - it would have no weight with his own department'.