PACKET LICENSES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 136, 13 June 1927, Page 8

PACKET LICENSES

PROVISIONS OF THE ACT

(By Telenraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day J.he question of the availability of packet licenses for coastal steamers' was brought up again on Saturday, when the Tauranga Licensing Committee decided that it could not grant the privilege to the Northern Steamship Company's steamer Matangi to trade botween Auckland and Taurano-a "and other ports in New Zealand." The committee's objection was based on the fact that the Act specifies that licenses are only to be issued between definite terminal ports. Where a ship trades outside those two ports the license does not apply. The case of the Matangi was adjourned to the quarterly meeting, the company being allowed to continue on- a temporary license in the lueautimo.

The Act is somewhat ambiguous on this point. It refers to licenses being issued between Auckland (for example) and "any other port in New Zealand " but it goes on to refer to the two definite ports, from which the licensing committees apparently draw their inference accordingly. The Matangi's case brings to mind that of the Eangitoto, whic.li was dealt with recently for supplying liquor to passengers on a trip to Kawau. The ship was licensed, but only botween Auckland and Thames.