RENTAL CAR LICENCES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28536, 15 March 1958, Page 2

RENTAL CAR LICENCES

Authority’s Decision On Appeal

As a precaution against the use of an excessive number of vehicles by rental car operators, every vehicle should be required to have affixed in an .approved position a vehicle authority, Judge Archer says in a written decision as Transport Appeal Authority. He was commenting in the decision on an appeal by Tasman Rental Cars (Christchurch), Ltd., and Mutual Rental Cars, Ltd., against a decision of the No. 9 Transport Licensing Authority of December 23, 1957, granting extra vehicle authorities to other operators, but refusing their applications for additional vehicles.

“It would appear that the Transport Department had no staff engaged on or available for enforcing compliance on the part of licensees with the terms of their licences,” said Judge Archer.

“My inquiries at the hearing of the appeal suggest that virtuaHy no effort is being made by any competent authority to . . . (do this) . . . ”, he added. There was also a doubt, he said, whether the department had adequate powers of inspection and inquiry. “Licensing is reduced to absurdity when no steps are taken to enforce it, and that appears to be the case in respect of rental licences,” said Judge Archer. He then referred to vehicle authorities being affixed to the cars in an approved position. “Why this is not now required I am unable to understand, and I urgently recommend that vehicle authorities be issued for rental vehicles, and that the question of enforcement be taken up with the department,” he added. Allowing the appeals pro forma. Judge Archer amended the decision of the authority cancelling any provisions, if any apply to the two firms, for seasonal licences.

The amended decision also allows them to operate 25 per cent, more vehicles from the Thursday before to the Wednesday after Labour Day and from December 1 to the foUowing April 30, and cancels the provisions restraining the two firms from making any more applications before March 31, 1959.