BAN ON PASSENGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1933, Page 12

BAN ON PASSENGERS

MOTOR GOODS VEHICLES

VIEWS OF TRUCK DRIVERS

"We agree that passengers should not be carried on motor goods services except in cases of emergency," said three truck operators questioned at a sitting of the No. 2 Licensing Authority by .the chairman (Mr. J. A. C. Allum') who pointed out that licensed goods services . were prohibited from carrying fare-paying passengers unless under., a passenger-service licence, states the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. Allum said, that should truck operators carry passengers free they were not indemnified under the thjrd. party insurance scheme against any claims made by passengers injured through the drivers' negligence. "Apart from the risk of accident, passengers .on a goods service are a nuisance, and certainly should not. bo encouraged,", said Mr. J. Whytoek, of Clevcdon. ] "I welcome the regulation against the practice," remarked Mr. A. S. Phillips, of'Manurewa. "We are constantly besieged by people wanting' free rides."' • ■ ■ • • Mr. Allum: Arc they people who are "hard-up," without money- to pay fares'? Mr. Phillips: The majority are. "Docs not a notice on the vehicle disclaiming responsibility for injuryto free passengers safeguards the operator?" asked Mr. Phillips. Mr. Allum: I-advise you to see your solicitor about that. "I do-not stop for passengers on the roads now," said Mr. S. C. Sycamore, of Waiuku, who added that the practice should be "cut right out." There were proper services catering for passengers. "But I do think that a man should be able to take his wife to town witli him when he .want to, or to carry a sick person to hospital," lie said. Mr. Allum said that near relatives and cases of extreme urgency or hardship were in a different category from ordinary passengers.