MOTOR DRIVERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 19, 23 January 1932, Page 7

MOTOR DRIVERS.

FOUR HUNDRED APPLY. OPERATION OF NEW ACT. STATEMENT OF MINISTER. . Though more than 400 applications for motor transport licenses, under the new Transport Licensing Act, have been received by the Commissioner of Transport, it appears that some bus operators have not yet realised that their services will come under the Act within a few weeks. "Those running transport services are reminded that no passenger service can be legally carried on after March 1, 1932, unless a, license is first obtained under the new Act," said the Minister of Transport, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in an interview in Wellington. "The definition of passenger service vehicle under the Act includes, broadly speaking, all passenger vehicles for hire save those vehicles which arc genuinely taxis; that is to say, which are available to go anywhere and arc hired out as a whole instead of by the seat. Even vehicles engaged usually as taxis come within the definition if on any occasion they run on defined routes at separate fares. A license would be necessary for the latter service. "The size of the vehicle or the fare levied does not come into the question under the Transport Licensing Act of last session. Vehicles used solely for the carriage of school children and their teachers, and vehicles (other than taxis) which are hired out for the whole vehicle to indetermined destinations do not require to be licensed under the Act, but certificates of fitness must be obtained in respect of them, and applications should be lodged as soon as possible. "Although part HI. of the Act gives power for the control of goods services for hire, this part will not be administered until the passing of an Ordcr-in-Council. At the present time, and until further notice, owners of goods services which do not carry passengers for lure do not require to take any action under the Act. "\ll operators running passenger services of any kind, however, whether they have received notification or not, would be well advised to ascertain definitely at the earliest possible date their position under the Act. _ "The licensing authorities to be appointed under the Act will be set up in the very near future, and application for licenses- will be thorough* investigated by them, and dealt with before March 1. Operators are also reminded that their passenger service licenses cannot be issued until the veWclcs engaged have been inspected and certificates of fitness granted.