PRINCIPLES GIVEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 6

PRINCIPLES GIVEN

TRANSPORT LICENCES AID TO EX-SERVICEMEN Principles which will be taltcn into account by licensing authorities in reviewing road transport licences, including Government decisions to assist in the rehabilitation of ex-ser-vicemen, were reviewed last night by the Minister of Transport (Mr. O'Brien). Beferring to the petrol and rubber position, the Minister said thatr New Zealand stocks were lower at the present time than they had been since the beginning of the war; that fact would also have to be taken into account by licensing authorities in considering all applications under the reviews being undertaken. "In the first place," said the Minister, "absolute priority will be given to ex-servicemen by all' licensing authorities in considering applications for transfers of existing licences or for new licences, but I wish to point out that while a certain number of new licences will be required to take care of expansion in business, these will not amount to large numbers. It is not the policy of the Government to rehabilitate ex-servicemen in transport where they. would have little opportunity of making a living or where such a course would result in seriously reducing the standards of those already in the industry. In addition, where licensed operators who have not been in the Forces have increased their fleets during the war years, licensing authorities will, wherever this is at all possible, make these increases available to exservicemen. "While having regard to the obligations of a licensed operator under the Occupational '.Re-establishment Regulations, the licensing authorities •may, if they are of the opinion that such a course is in the public interest, require an operator to make available a suitable part of his service for sale to an ex-serviceman. The Government feels that where additional labour is required in any • transport business, preference should be given to an ex-serviceman, and where State trading departments require transport endeavours will be made to see whether this transport could be provided by a licensed ex-serviceman. OTHER SERVICES. "In regard to taxi services," the Minister said, "the Government's policy in relation to the owner-driver system is that the owner should own and operate his own cab. Under this policy the owner of more than one taxi would be required to satisfy the licensing authority that it is in the, public interest that he should retain the additional licences. "As. regards goods services, the Government has decided that where services are operated, .by private enterprise the service to the public is improved where there is some measure of competition. Also, steps will be taken to ensure a coordination of goods services by means of 'clearing houses' or control committees. , , , . "I have given a great deal of consideration to the policy to be followed with ancillary users, and have to say that these operators were brought under the present licensing system for j the express purpose of saving petrol and tyres. These operators, as a result of this, are subject to direction from control committees who have adequate powers to restrict their operations and rationalise their running. . I do not feel, therefore, that further steps are necessary in the meantime. "I have instructed the Commissioner of Transport to bring before the licensing authorities all relevant facts which he considers may have a bearing on their considerations of applications. These representations will be made at the public hearings in the form of -evidence. "During the war years the road transport industry' has done a really good job. In spite of restrictions in all directions all essential transport has been provided, and in no case has vital production or industry been retarded because of lack of road transport. I also know that every member of the industry is'sympathetic_to exservicemen and will do all in his power to assist the Government in its endeavours to give these men the opportunity they are so. fully entitled to." ' ■