‘Lack of criteria’ in bill

Press, 27 September 1983, Page 3

‘Lack of criteria’ in bill

Unless more criteria were introduced, the proposed quality licensing of the transport industry could become a “paper war with rubber-stamp decisions’ Mr Roy Marsden, of Taupo, told the New Zealand Road Transport Association’s annual conference in Christchurch yesterday. By changing the licensing system from quantity to quality from June 1, 1984, the controversial Transport Amendment Bill (No. 5) proposed to change the ground rules of the industry. However, Mr Marsden, who is chairman of the associa-

tion’s legislation and licensing committee, was concerned that there were not enough licensing criteria in the bill and that too much would be left to the discretion of the 12 licensing authorities.

He was particularly concerned that there were no criteria covering the competency of the applicant owner or ownerdriver.

He hoped that some regulations covering this would be “hammered out” before June next year otherwise quality licensing would become nothing more than a

“myth.” Mr Marsden was also disappointed that none of the innovative ideas put forward by the Road Transport Association had been included in the bill. These included suggestions for transport courts for all heavy traffic offences, that the licensing system should be self-policing, and quality licensing criteria. The provisions for enforcing the new bill were Draconian, but he was pleased that the Government had met the request that transport legislation be enforced.