BIG SAVINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 9

BIG SAVINGS

. • —r-r—• — \ COST OF TRANSPORT

LICENSING PROBLEM

A statement' reviewing the applications received'for" the licensing'of transport services was issued last evening by the Minister of Transport (the Bt. Hon. J. G. Coates). Mr. Coates referred ;to the- economies'-which kad been effected in passenger services.

Mr. Coates recalled that under the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, passenger services were brought within the scope of licensing from March 1, 1932. At the present time there were 607 continuous and seasonal licences current, involving 1334 passenger service vehicles. Up to the time licensing authorities .commenced for ,this . year's . renewals r comprehensive economies had- been effected in p'assen-. ger services, some seven milliqn vehicle miles having been eliminated .without materially interfering with the transport facilities available to the public. It was anticipated that, as a result ot the activities of the authorities, and by further co-ordinations, more could be accomplished without trouble or undue hardship. * / REGULATING GOODS SERVICES.

"The problem of regulating goods services, however, is one of greater complexity," said Mr. Coates. "The . licensing of these services is only now, being commenced, in accordance with* the legal necessity for all such services to be licensed as from June 1, 1933. Up to the present, 1761 applications have been received, by the Transport Department, involving the licensing of some 2646 vehicles. The necessary; clerical work in checking and examin-,. ing the applications has been completed, and the papers are being dispatched to the appropriate licensing authorities for public hearings. "TJiese public hearings give all interested parties full opportunities of placing before the licensing authorities any information or representations concerning the transport requirements of the respective areas, and the Government is ' particularly desirous that; representative bodies and organisations should avail themselves fully of the machinery and, opportunity afforded by; the regulations to ensure that the licensing authorities .concerned ''may," have all the essential. data at their disposal before making decisions. AUTOMATIC LICENCES. "Care has been exercised in drafting the requirements so that as little disorganisation as possible may result from the inauguration of licensing, and provision has been made whereby » large number, of the services will receive automatic licences for the first year, by reason, of the [past period the. vehicles concerned, have supplied services. The licensing Authorities and the Department are carefully studying i all the conditions existing in the various districts, and every opportunity will.be taken to effect co-ordination where this can be achieved amicably and satisfactorily to those concerned." . ~■.;■ In conclusion, Mr. Coates said the licensing authorities and the Department were fully alive to the fyirdshipt that «onld be caused, and it was their desire that this should be avoided and friction reduced to a minimum. FIGURES IK DETAIL. Details showing by transport districts the number of passenger service' licences current at July, 1933, and the number of passenger service "vehicles authorised : to be used under such licences; and the number -of applications received fot. ; goods service licences, together with ih*f number of vehicle authorities covered in such applications, are ai follows:-^

Total .. 607 1334 W6l 2646 •Th» Tehlcles use* by operators toi.'the Nor* »nd South Wands1! central districts «• Included in ttie district, njures according to where the vehicles are garaged. ,:,.

Passenger services Good* service!. . Continuous : : r Vehtcte Transport seasonal Appllca- »uthori« district licences. Vehlclei. tions. ties. North Island . v , central 41 . * ■ • t W 891 , 75: - % 58; IM ;;•:•■:! i i g k£ fi 85 183 WT 221 Ka. 6..... «S ill -131 20«S* I'"** li- Io2 KO 243 StS:::: S{- w /m »«■■• Na 10 .... 38 50 82 "■*