DEPARTMENT CRITICISED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1939, Page 8

DEPARTMENT CRITICISED

I BY LICENSING AUTHORITY. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, August 24. “I think the attitude of the Railways Department in this matter is quite unfair,” said Mr P. Skoglund, No. 2 Licensing Authority, in dealing with the application of W. Higgs, of Wellington, for a contract passenger service license. Applicant said that he had given up a taxi business, to engage m work for the Tourist Department, at the Department’s request, and now had been informed that, unless he had a transport license, he would not be able to cater for the work of the Tourist Department. Mr Skoglund said that he had not been granted a transport license previously, because Higgs was operating under a, license from the Wellington City Council, and ho (Mr Skoglund) was of opinion that that license was sufficient. Higgs said he was informed now that he must have a. transport license. The Wellington City Council would’ not grant him a taxi license, unless he bought out some service. The Railways Department objected :< to a transport license, mairly on the X ground that there were existing faciliX ties to cope with the work. X Mr Skoglund granted Higgs a lix cense. He said that he was not going x to take any man’s livelihood from x him. “What happened on appeal does X not concern me one iota,” he said. “I X am here to give a decision conscientiX ously, and which I think is fair on the X evidence.”