STATE CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24227, 20 February 1940, Page 7

STATE CONTROL

PASSENGER TRANSPORT ADVOCACY OF LICENSING AUTHORITY COMMENT BY MINISTER (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 19. An indication of his views on the transport industry of New Zealand was given by Mr T, H. Langford, No. 3 Transport Licensing Authority, at a smoke concert and presentation to Mr W. Rodgers, who has retired from the position of district traffic manager at Christchurch after 40 years’ service with the department. “ The Railways Department,” said Mr Langford. “ should take over the whole of the passenger transport service of the Dominion. There is every reason why the public should have a better service from a Slate concern than from a private individual. Already the Government has taken over a large number of services, and the public has had no cause for complaint. When the State control of transport comes the public will be thoroughly satisfied.” Mr Langford made these remarks when proposing the toast of “The Railways Department.” The Railways Department In reply, the Minister of Railways (Mr D. G. Sullivan) said that Mr Langford had made some very interesting suggestions regarding the function of the, department and the quality and character of new services given to the public. He (Mr Langford) had many and varied opportunities of judging. “ I personally,” said Mr Sullivan, “ cannot recollect any complaints from the public regarding the services we have taken over. The State has tried to rationalise transport and eliminate stupid duplication and competition, both on the transport and freight sides. “At the outbreak of war we found it necessary to eliminate some of our own road freight services, owing to the necessity to , conserve petrol supplies. Business men wrote .to me, paying tribute to the manner in which the department had met the position, and also making certain requests to which it was not possible to accede. Rationing of Petrol “Rationing of petrol,” continued Mr Sullivan, “ will have to be applied further. possibly, if the war continues for any length of time. Anonymous correspondents in the newspapers have said that the restrictions were applied to conserve the funds of the New Zealand Government. That ,is absolutely incorrect. The restrictions have been imposed to serve the Imperial Government and dollar funds, so that the Imperial Government can buy more munitions and aeroplanes from America. That. then, is the simple truth.”