Transport bill on way

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 2

Transport bill on way

PA Wellington Controversial legislation absolishing protection for the Railways Corporation passed through its penultimate stages in Parliament in the early hours of yesterday after a hard-fought battle by the Opposition. The Opposition forced votes clause by clause on the long measure, but was unable to muster the support to achieve any lastminute changes. Parliament sat until 2.52 a.m.

The Transport Amendment Bill (No. 5) was introduced late last year as part of a Government package to increase competition and choice in the transport sector.

It has been set down for its final reading next sitting day in Parliament. The select committee staying the bill heard 111 witnesses over a 12-day period and it was brought back into the House with increased enforcement powers for traffic officers. The Labour Party milked the passage of the bill for every minute’s debating time it could manage. It also took its fight out of Parliament on the “Save Rail” campaign throughout New Zealand earlier this year. Under the legislation the present 150 km restriction on road transport operators carting goods will be phased out over the next three

years, beginning from June, 1984.

Heavy trucks carting goods beyond 150 km will be charged a capacity-related distance fee, which will be scaled down over the three years. The measure also provides for a switch from the present quantitative licensing system for road transport operators to a less restrictive qualitative licensing system. Instead of having to prove that any new transport licence will not harm existing operators, applicants seeking to enter the industry will only have to prove they have the financial backing to run a new service.