Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

TRANSPORT BILL

NEW PROPOSALS

COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE

LAND, AIR, AND WATER

The proposals of the Government for the control of transport services were introduced in the House of Representatives last night in the Transport Licensing Bill, which was read a first time and is later to be referred to a Committee of the House so that evidence may be heard from interested parties. In addition to providing for the control and ' licensing of commercial road transport services, .the measure, which is a comprehensive one, makes similar provision in respect to air services. For the purposes of the Act transport districts are to be constituted by Order-ia-Couneil of such mimbor and ■with, such boundaries as may be thought fit. Each district will havo a licensing authority consisting of three members appointed by the Minister, and in addition thero will be a central licensing authority of the same constitution. No person is to be appointed, who, otherwise than as a member of an incorporated company of not more than twenty members and of which ,he is not a director, officer, or servant, is financially interested in the business of carrying passengers or goods by means of any service to which tho Act applies. Public servants, servants of local authorities affected by the Act, and servants of tramway concerns, are also barred from, appointment. The term of appointment in each case is to be three year 3, but members will be eligible for leappointment. Authority is given to the Minister to appoint deputies in the event of illness or absence of a member. Reasonable travelling allowances incurred hy members in tho discharge of their duties are to be recoverable out of moneys appropriated by Parliament for the purpose. Provision is also made for the setting tip of a Transport Appeal Board consisting of three persons, tho chairman to bo appointed on the Minister's recommendation, one member from persons nominated by the executives of the Municipal Association and tho Counties' Association, and the other from persons nominated by owners of services other than local authorities. The board will hear and determine all appeals against decisions of tho licensing authorities. ISSUE OF LICENCES. Passenger services and passenger service vohicles will bo subject to licence, and liability will be incurred in the event of breach to a fine of £100 and £.10 additional for each day, of continned offence. In addition, the directors of the offending company may be subject to a £10 fine for every day on which tho service is carried on. Vehicles conveying school children and teachers and not otherwise used for a passenger service are exempted, also vehicles conveying private parties on special occasions, provided they are not advertised for carrying passengers. Passenger licences will be issued by ■the central authority in cases where the proposed service is to cover more than one district, otherwise tho duty will devolve on district authorities. All applications for passenger service licences must be made to the Commissioner of Transport, who will place them beforo the licensing authority concerned. Evidence for or against

' the. granting-of licences'.will bo heard •by the licensing authorities, and a, number of points aro set out in the Eill for determination before licences are granted. Ge-nerally, authorities are to have regard to the extent to ■which tho proposed service is necessary or desirable in the public interest, and the needs tof the district or districts as a whole in relation to passenger transport. If the service is considered unnecessary or 'undesirable a licence may be refused. . . Other matters to. be taken into consideration are the financial ability of the applicant to carry on a service and tho likelihood of his carrying- it on satisfactorily; tirnc-tables or frequency of the service; fares; transport services already provided, either by land or water, in respect to the proposed routes or localities to be served; transport requirements of such localities; vehicles to be used; the condition of the roads and streets to be traversed, aad load, speed, or other restrictions affecting, the particular vehicles proposed to be used; and evidence received from the public, the Railways Board, or local bodies carrying on other transport services of any kind. PREFERENCE APPLICATIONS. Applications by the Government or local public bodies for passenger services will be given, preference over all other applications if there is no existing transport service over the route proposed; if tho proposed service is in extension of an existing service cari lied on by the applicant; if tho licensing authority i 3 satisfied that tho proposed service will not unfairly compete with an existing service to the same locality by another route; and if tho licensing authority is satisfied '■ that the service will be satisfactory having regard to time-tables, frequency of service, etc., and that the fares will be reasonable. ' The licensing authorities will be required to fix routes, fares, time-tablos, etc., and licences will be issued only if it is shown that the vehicles are fit for the services proposed. Onco approved, passenger services are not to bo abandoned or curtailed without the consent of the licensing authority, which may amend the terms and conditions of licences as it considers necessary in the public interest. Provision is made for public inquiry as to whether a service is being conducted in confornfity with the terms of the licence, and'power is given for the suspension o£ a licence for such period as a commfttee thinks fit. Certificates of fitness of passenger service vehicles will bo issued by the Commissioner or other authorised persons, and will have effect for twelve months. Power is conferred for tho invocation of licences in cortain circumstances, and wide powers of inspection aro prescribed. GOODS AND AIR SERVICES. . "Controlled areas" are to be declared for the purpose of good services, I and the pro\-ision laid down in respect to passenger services aro to bo applied also to goods services. The licensing authority of a controlled area may call upon applicants for licences to furnish proof that their liability in respect of loss or damage to goods conveyed is covered by insurance. In considering applications for aircraft service licences, the central authority will have regard to the extent to which the proposed service is necessary or desirable in the public interest, and the needs of the localities, proposed to be served, in relation., to transport, whether by land, water, or air. • Instoad of prescribing particular locali* ties to be served, the central authority may grant a licence authorising the carrying on of a general aircraft service throughout the Dominion. Certificates of fitness of machines will be required. Accidents are to be notified within forty-eight hours to the Commissioner, and inquiries into tho cans© of such mishaps may bo ordered. Wide power is givon for the framing of regulations. The Act will bind tho Crown.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19310708.2.51

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 10

Word Count
1,130

TRANSPORT BILL Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 10

TRANSPORT BILL Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 10