FAR-REACHING PROPOSALS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 308, 3 October 1929, Page 4

FAR-REACHING PROPOSALS.

The Transport Law Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives is a far-reaching measure, much wider in its scope than appears on the surface. Parliament will require , to study its provisions closely and not to. rush off into bypaths of criticism,'; as members appeared inclined to do in their first reception of the measure. In commenting upon it we do so with reservations which are necessary in considering a measure of such length and with such multifarious provisions. The danger of hasty judgment is shown in the statement already made, in criticism of the Bill, that it contains no proposals for bringing about co-ordination of road and rail services. These proposals are indeed the most important in the Bill. They will require to be submitted to a practical test before their effect can be gauged ; but our opinion, on a first reading, is that if an advance towards co-ordination is not made now the failure will not be due to lack of legislative authority. The provisions do not, certainly, make coordination compulsory and assured in one step, but they clear the way for

voluntary action, and in the background there is authority to apply pressure if pressure becomes necessary to check wasteful duplication of transport services. . . . The question that remains is, how is such duplication to be avoided and an economical

transport system to be instituted ? New Zealand, with State-owned, double-purpose railways, cannot adopt untrammelled commercial operation (with cut-throat competition), nor can it effect with ease the amalgamation of road and rail instituted by the Great Western and other British

railway companies. The Transport Bill proposes,' first, advisory committees associated with the Ministry of Transport, and, secondly, revision of the licensing system, so that control may be exercised throughout the Dominion. At present such control is exercised locally, and over a limited class of vehicles. It is now proposed to extend it to all commercial services passengers and goods and with a provision that preference shall be given to Railway Department or local authority applications. With such provisions .it is of the highest importance that the controlling authorities shall be both competent and | representative. There must be no onesided subordination of commercial requirements. Wellington Evening Post.