Consumer Council Attacked

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30535, 2 September 1964, Page 3

Consumer Council Attacked

(N.Z. Press Association) NELSON, Sept. 1. An attack on the Consumer Council was made by the president (Mr J. R. Wilkinson), of Lower Hutt, in his report to'the annual conference of the New Zealand Taxi Proprietors’ Federation in Nelson today.

He called it a “thinly disguised branch of the Industries and Commerce Department,” which was staffed by public servants paid by the taxpayer. Mr Wilkinson said it would appear desirable to “curb the ambitions of these bureaucrats” before they sought to keep tabs on the Railways Department, air and shipping services as well as the taxi industry. The president was referring to the council’s action in seeking permission to appear

as of right at all transport licensing sittings and also to have right to appeal against licensing authorities and Commissioner of Transport decisions regarding fares. Commenting on the “apparent desire to extend its activities,” Mr Wilkinson said he wondered if that was “Parkinson’s law In operation.” Parliament had given the Commissioner of Transport authority to fix fares and charges for the industry, be said. “The Commissioner himself requires that he shall be completely satisfied as to the necessity for any variation in fare schedules before he gives his approval and the public is very well protected against unwarranted increases as well as having the right of appeal where 25 or more adult persons so desire.” he said. “Now we have another department of state paid for by you and me and all the rest of New Zealand taxpayers proposing to waste our money and its time • in putting a completely unnecessary check on a most efficient head of the department which has been given the job of administering the act “Such an idea is to my mind an attempt to impugn the efficiency of Mr Polaschek and his officers. “This industry has every confidence in their fairness and efficiency and indeed Parliament has shown its confidence in them by passing the act”