DOMINION TRANSPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 216, 1 December 1927, Page 15

DOMINION TRANSPORT

LARGER COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE QUESTION COMPLEXITY OF PROBLEM Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, issued a statement to-day in regard to the proposed inquiry into the transport i systems of New Zealand. As the preliminary consideration, by a small departmental committee has proceeded, it has become in- ■ creasingly clear that the problem is one of very considerable importance and complexity. A larger preliminary committee accordingly has been set up to co-ordin-ate the work, consisting of permanent heads of the Public Works Department, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Railway Department and the Marine Department, with all which are associated the Government Statistician and representatives of the Prime Minister’s Department. The committee is now engaged on the task of evolving a definite plan by which it is hoped to collate, in the simplest and most effective way, the facts and figures which will serve to form a basis of reasoned conclusion as to the present position. “As illustrating the magnitude and importance of the work before the committee, it may be pointed out that the scope of its investigations includes:— A review of road taxation by local bodies and by the State. The cost of construction of roads, including Government subsidies, construction, and maintenance of main highways. Railway construction and operation. Harbour facilities. Municipal transport and road transport, both commercial and private. Already a considerable mass of detailed information and statistics has I been collected and compiled. It seems plain that an enormous de- i velopment may be expected in the use j of commercial motor vehicles, and it is ; felt by the committee that the proper I time to initiate an investigation of this j branch of the subject is while motor traffic is still in its infancy. Statistical inquiries are accordingly being addressed for this purpose to owners of commercial motor vehicles. “An effort has been made to cause as little inconvenience to those concerned as possible and I trust in view of the importance of the subject the information will be supplied readily and in as much detail as possible in the circumstances. “I wish again to make it clear that the Government has no intention of taking any drastic steps in connection with motor transport or any other mode of transport, no’, indeed, does it intend to take any steps whatever in ’ the meantime. The object of inquiry i as to motor vehicles, and the object of j the whole of the committee’s invest!- j gations, is merely to collect data and : to report.”