ROAD TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 297, 15 December 1936, Page 5

ROAD TRANSPORT.

AUTHORITY'S ATTITUDE. "WILL NOT BE INFLUENCED." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, this day. "It is useless operators going to members of Parliament or Ministers asking them to use their influence with the licensing authorities. Let me say that this licensing authority will not be influenced by a member of Parliament or a Minister. He has been given a job to do, and will do it to the best of his ability," declared Mr. P. Skoglund, licensing authority for the No. 2 transport district, prior to commencing the hearing of applications for the renewal or extension of licenses in Palmerston North to-day.

"In future operators will have to see that wages are earned and paid in conformity with the award," added Mr. Skoglund. "This applies to ownerdrivers as well as to employees and employers, and whether or not they are parties to tlio award. It is the Government's intention to see that sufficient is earned to enable the requisite rate to be paid. In future the issue of a renewal will depend 011 whether the operator is in - a financial position to conduct a satisfactory service. I have examined all the balance-sheets and financial-' statements and in a good many instances I find that the operators are not returning sufficient income to allow of award wages being paid, and that a lot of returns are not correctly completed.' Mr. Skoglund also referred to "cutthroat" competition. "We hope to come to some agreement about the freight schedules, which are to be made a condition of a license. Any operators who cut the freights will be in danger of losing their licenses," declared the authority.