LICENSING OF TRANSPORT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 2

LICENSING OF TRANSPORT

ADMINISTRATION OF ACT MAY BE CHANGED

(New Zealand Press Association) ' WELLINGTON, May 26. A hint that there might soon be a change in the administration of the Transport Licensing Act was given by Mr C. L. Bishop, sitting in Lower Hutt to-day as No. 2 Licensing Authority. He was speaking in reply to a contention by Mr C. A. L. Treadwell that when a man could go to the Lower Hutt Post Office and, without any apparent difficulty, obtain a temporary carrying licence, while vehicles of established licence-holders were not engaged, the system which the Licensing Authority existed to uphold was beginning to be undermined. Mr Bishop said he was not altogether happy about the situation. In the South Island, post offices did not issue licences. Licences were all arranged through the Transport Department.

“It is possible.” he said, “that there will be some change in the administration of the Transport Licensing Act in the near future. I am not in a position to discuss it till that is settled. It would not be wise to interfere with the present set-up. It should be left, at any rate for a month or two. but if the present licensing set-up is to continue. and I were acting in the No. 2 district, I think I would have some change made in the Post Office issue of temporary licences. On what I have heard, the procedure appears to need tightening up.”