The Coming of the Motor.

The commencement of the present century saw the dawn of a new era in transport. Motor power had arrived and although as yet it was in its infancy a potential rival to steam had arisen. Its effect—naturally retarded through the adolescent period—was not apparent till two decades had passed, but from 1920 onwards its advancement as a transport unit was most pronounced. At this period the pride of place held by railway transport was in jeopardy, its right disputed, its value as a social service weakened page break

Commercial Manager And Staff.
(Rly. Publicity photos.) Mr. D. Rodie, Commercial Manager (centre), and members of the Commercial staff at Railway Headquarters, Wellington. Top (from left) : Messrs. F. K. McKav. F. G. Craig, and A. P. L. Andrew. Below (from left) : Messrs. H. A. Steers and D. S. Broughton.

page 14 and its power curtailed by this new transport facility that secured much of the public patronage in spite of the high cost involved by its use.

With the coming of competitive forms of transport traders and travellers were provided with an alternative means of conveyance which caused them to weigh the relative values of the two, not only from the point of view of cost, but also of facility and convenience, to an extent never previously indulged in.

The position that arose was one calling for prompt and expert attention. On the one hand was the Railway Department, the largest organization in the Dominion, selling its commodity—transport—to all and sundry, and compelled by law to publish or notify all its charges; its tariff scale open to everyone's inspection, and (subject to one or two minor conditions) compelled, as common carriers, to cater for all classes of traffic. On the other hand was a new form of transport enjoying the advantage of free selection of its business and at liberty to adjust its prices to what it might consider the purchasing power of any individual trader, manufacturer or farmer.

On the passenger side was arising a form of travel which, in spite of obvious discomforts, possessed an attraction for travellers which could only be ascribed to its novelty.

This led to a new appreciation of travel values by the public and engendered an anxiety on their part to secure more and more transport value for their money.