ISSUE OF LICENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1941, Page 4

ISSUE OF LICENCE

. *. DISQUALIFIED DRIVER "MISLEADING FORM" "The soldier in filling in the application form for the licence did so in a misleading ■ manner, and therefore the licence was issued without the knowledge that the applicant was under disqualification by the Court from driving." This statement is contained in the printed reply made by the Minister of Transport (Mr. Semple) and issued today to a question raised in the House of Representatives last session by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) regarding the case 'of a soldier mechanic and linesman who had been issued with a driving licence by the Commissioner of Transport after having been convicted last year of being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car and having his licence cancelled for five years. Some pointed. comment on 'the issue of the licence*under these circumstances was made at the time by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., and in drawing attention to the Magistrate's remarks. Mr. Broadfoot asked the Minister if he would prevent licences being issued under similar circumstances in the future. j In his reply, Mr. Semple says that apparently the full circumstances were not brought to the attention of the I Magistrate. It was probable that in view of the way the form for the licence was filled in an offence was by the applicant, and consideration was being given to the taking of.further proceedings. "It is quite possible for similar occurrences to take place in connection with the driving licences issued by local authorities, and, in fact, such cases have occurred in the past," the Minister adds. "Every possible step is being taken* to prevent the recurrence of the unfortunate happening, but in view of the fact that there are 300 issuing authorities ... it is a somewhat difficult task."