TRANSPORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 January 1931, Page 7

TRANSPORT

THE RIVAL SYSTEMS GOVERNMENT CONCERNED DRASTIC ACTION THREATENED FURTHER. DETAILS OF MR RANSOM’S STATEMENT WELLINGTON, 7th January. In expressing the opinion that- the time was overripe for a complete review of the transport system of the Dominion, especially in relation to the heavy iosses on the railways caused through competition from motor vehicles, the Hon. E A. Ransom said, replying tc. the Gisborne railway deputation, lie wished to make it clear that the four lines upon which work had been stopped had not been abandoned', as seemed to bo thought in. many quarters. Work had merely been suspended in, order that the Government might have a breathing space in which to go into the whole question. It was imperative, tint the heavy expenditure ori these lines should be stopped in the meantime. The Government intended to apply' itself to a further adjustment of the national finances, and it was hoped that in the course of a few days it would be possible to make an important announcement concerning future development work. LOSS ON RAILWAYS Mr Ransom said the annual loss on working railways was already £1,300,000. This would be increased as the lines under construction were brought into operation. It was important to note that £32,000,000 a year was being spent on motor transport throughout the country. This huge expenditure, added to that upon the railways, had justified the Government in calling a halt in construction in order that it might go into the whole question of road and rail transport and define a definite policy so far as meeting the position created by the competition between the two services was concerned. Both the roads and the railways belonged to the people, and County Councils were finding is increasingly difficult to maintain the roads largely through the wear upon them bv heavy-laden vehicles. It was therefore right that something should bo done to overcome this trouble in view of the fact that much of the merchandise should be carried by the railways. If the facilities provided by the railways were good, there was no reason why they should not take the traffic now being diverted to the roads. There was no intention whatever of scrapping the railways, but Cabinet bad decided, to take these questions into very serious consideration.

PRODUCTIVE WORKS It had been .that the Government should have closed down the non-productive lines first, but this was exactly what had been done. It had been suggested that there was something in the mind of the Government which had hot been made clear to others, and this might be perfectly true. It was the Government’s intention to find work for the men who had been put off construction work and to put them on to some more productive form of employment, the project at the moment being the greater development of Crown and other lands. The policy to be followed in this connection^had, not yet been settled, but it was'certain that the lines to be followed would be acceptable to the country generally. It was hoped to make an announcement upon a work of considerable magnitude at an early date.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER The closing of the four lines A\‘as due purely to financial considerations. Polltical issues did not enter the question. As nothing definite had been done by the Select Committee on railway construction last session, tlie Government had decided that it Avould have to accept the responsibility and act. Accordingly, it was noticeable that'in a district where a railway was required there was much enthusiasm for it and great confidence in its future, but as soon as the railway was opened enthusiasm seemed to die away, and traffic was diverted to the roads. This had occurred in. several instances. It had been impossible to educate the people generally up to the fact that the railways Avere their property and that any loses upon them would have to be borne by the taxpayer. Until that spirit of mutual support had been imbued in the people it would be impossible to * see any hope m the future of the railways. If it could not be imbued then the Government would have to take steps to enforce restrictions that Avould force traffic on to the railways. That would be a serious question. The works would not be started again until it could be sliOAvn that they Avould be justified. Cabinet s decision had not been made hastily. On the contrary it was overdue. Some delay had ben caused through the pressure of unemployment and an announcement could not be made until the plans for the absorption of the men bad been well advanced. Although some loss might be borne by the taxpayer it was necessary to safeguard the railways revenue in order that the taxpayer would not be overburdened. By increasing production it Avould be possible to make the raihvays a paying proposition m time. The whole question was wrapped up in that of transport generally. MORE TO BE DONE “This is only one of the unpleasant things that Cabinet has done and will yet have to do,” Mr Ransom concluded. “There are problems of such magnitude before us that very drastic steps will have to be taken to meet the interests of the whole of the people of the Dominion.” _