TRANSPORT REGULATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1936, Page 12

TRANSPORT REGULATIONS

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, July 20. Two recent Orders-in-Council give effect to the reorganisation of the transport, licensing system, consequent on the recent amendments to transport legislation, said the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, in an interview to-day. The Transport Licensing (Passenger) Regulations, 1936, not only make provision for new matters, bu!t where necessary thejconsolidate the existing regulations. Under the new regulations, the existing nine transport districts tire abol-j ished, and New Zealand is now divided into four districts, two in the North Island, with offices at Auckland and Wellington respectively, and two in lhe South Island, with offices at Christchurch and Dunedin.

The appointments of Messrs Phelan, Skoglund, Langford, and Raines as Licensing Authorities, as from July 21. are confirmed. Provision is made lor the simplification of the system of temporary passenger service licenses, and the issue of permits in lieu of certificates of fitness. Reductions are made in certain of the fees payable. It is made a condition of each passenger service license that the licensee or any employer'shall not drive for more than 5A hours contniuously, or for more -than 11 hours in any period of 24 hours. A compulsory

period of 24 consecutive hours for rest is; also provided for every week. The provision relating to wages, orders payment of award rates to all drivers. The condition of every passenger service license under the Transport Licensing Act sets out detailed provisions relating to the licensing of motor transport passenger services’. and provides that these proI visions may be applied by Order-in-Council. In respect of motor transport services carrying goods, the provisions were first applied to goods services in 1933, but the recent amendments to the transport legislation have made it. necessary to issue a

fresh Order-in-Council, incorporating the necessary amendments. The new Order-in-Council is called the Transport Goods Order, 1936. In addition to the statutory amendments, it provides] lor the abolition of the existing provision whereby services which do not run lor five miles or more on main highways do not need to be licensed. It also provides that milk and cream loiiies. which, were formerly exempt, now come under the licensing requirements. Exemption from licensing is piovided tor all services operating within six miles of the Chief Post Offices in all boroughs and town districts, and tor services engaged solely m the distribution of newspapers. The present special “exempted” areas around the four main centres are being letained meanwhile, pending further investigation.

ROADS AND RAILWAYS INCREASED FREIGHT COSTS ... . , NELSON, July 21. Addressing the Nelson Chamber of

Commerce on recent changes in the transport licensing law. Mr. C. M. Rout dwelt on the vital importance ot the operation to certain producers ol the proposed goods service regulations. which make it a condition of all licenses that whore the distance by an open railway (open for at least 30 miles), phis its road extension, was not greater by one-third of the shortest road route available, goods should be carried by road only so far as is necessary to permit, of their carriage by railway. The amhoritv

i nad power to provide otherwise, anil also to exempt perishable goods. Air. Rout said that the Nelson and ’ Motueka fruit and tomata growers had developed with the southern markets tin extensive trade bv direct lorry shipment to the railhead at Inangahua. The present freight rate | seemed to be satisfactory to the growers and the carrier alike, but if those goods had to be sent, firstlv, over 59 I nines of railway to Glenhope, and] then to Inangahua. this might mean I inconvenience and delay in delivery.] with damage from extra handling, and added cost for freight. No indi-

cation had been given as to whether these goods would be considered "perishable.” Even if they will be so termed, it might be that the carriers will not be able to operate on the same freight rates, as their back loading, chiefly timber, might need to be dropped at the Glenhope railhead for carriage to Nelson, with extra handling and expense. Whore Nelson was concerned was to see this southern trade developed, and at the same time it was anxious to see its railway progress, so that the problem would he ddiflicult. It urgently called for coordination, and recognition of the growers’ interests. As the new regulations would no doubt be gazetted soon, the Chamber should ascertain to what extent the Government’s apparent policy oi restricting competition with the railways would be enforced, and what facilities would be thrown open for the transport of the abovementioned produce, some of which was carried overnight to catch thei outgoing train from Inangahua. 'Die Chamber decided to approach the Minister, asking for further information on the points raised.