“UNFAIR ATTITUDE”

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 12

“UNFAIR ATTITUDE”

TRANSPORT LICENSE APPLICATION RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT CRITICISED BY AUTHORITY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 23. “ I think the attitude of the Railways Department in this matter is quite unfair,” said Mr P. Skoglund, No. 2 Licensing Authority, dealing with the application of W. Higgs, of Wellington, for a contract passenger service license. The applicant said he had given up a taxi business to engage in work for the Tourist Department at tho department’s request, and had now been informed that unless he had a transport license ho would not be able to cater for the work of tho Tourist Department. Mr Skoglund said he had not granted a transport license previously because Higgs was operating under a license from the Wellington City Council, and bo (Mr Skoglund) was of the opinion that that license was sufficient. Higgs said he had been informed now that lie must have a transport license. The Wellington City Council would not grant him a taxi license unless he bought out some service. Tho Railways Department objected to a transport license mainly on the ground that there were existing facilities to cope with the work. Mr Skoglund granted Higgs a license. Ho said ho was not going to take any man’s livelihood from him. “ What happens on an appeal does not concern me one iota,” he said. _ “ I am here to give a decision conscientiously and one which I think is fair on the evidence.”