TRANSPORT LICENSING

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1944, Page 8

TRANSPORT LICENSING

APPLICATIONS AT GREYMOUTH

A number of .applications were heard by the N 0.3 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr. T. H. Langford) at a sitting in Greymouth yesterday. The following applications » for continuous goods service licenses (ancilliary user) were granted:—G. A. Wright, Greymouth; Golden Coast Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd.; Leslie Maloney, Blackball; James Haisty, Blackball.

C. C. Hende, Okuru, (Mr. W. D. Taylor) applied for amendment to goods service license to authorise him to operate two additional vehicle authorities for the cartage of gravel and road-m.aki.ng materials for the Public Works Department and local bodies in the No, 12 Highways District.

The -District Public Works Engineer (Mr. E. F. Evan) said applicant was a contractor for the Department in South Westland. Jjle would like to see additional truicks put on. Asked by Mr. Langford _if the application did not conflict with the rehabilitation policy Mr. Evans said it did to some extent, but it was Hende’s mechanical, loader which was on the job and there was the possibility of hold-ups if it broke down. Mr. Langford said that there were men returning from overseas who might like the opportunity of taking up contracts. .Mr. Hende, in evidence, said he had three trucks ct the iob and two others ready to start. Mr. J. W. Greenhill said the recommendation of the Road Transport License was that if the application be granted it be confined to the area south of Ross. The • Rehabilitation Officer (Mr. A N. Campbell) said he had applications from two suitable men that day and there were others, also, willing to take up such work. Mr. Langford said that there were many returned men in Canterbury anxious to undertake such work. The hearing of the application was adjourned to enable the possibility of purchasing the business from Hende to be discussed.. Smith, Okuru, South Westland, applied for a nevy continuous goods service license, with one vehicle authority, for the cartage of Public Works Department mateiial on the job. Mr. Evans, Public Works Fnmneer, supported the application. —Application granted to be restricted to area south of Ross. State Coal Mines, represented by Mr. J. Cook, manager, Blackball mine, applied for a new goods service license, with one vehicle authpi ity, for the cartage of coal (mine sales) at Blackball State Mme. Mr. W. Vallance. for the Road Transport Alliance, objected on' the grounds that operators in the area were able to do the work. Mr. Cook said it was essential to have a truck at the mine and there was not enough work to employ one continuously.. There was an agreement with the miners to car~ the coal at a cheap rate. Mr. J. Hadcroft Deputy Superintendent of State Mines, said all the other mines had their trucks.—Application grantee,. M K. Molloy, Kotuku, applied for transfer of goods service license from James Henry Morgan, Greymouth, to himself. Mr. J. J. Crooks, for . the Returned Services Association, objected on the grounds that two men recently returned from the Middle East'were willing to take the business. Applicant said he had had 16 months’ service in the armed forces ana had originally sold out to go to camp. Mr. E. T. Malloy said that another brother overseas wished to enter the business on his return. When Mr Langford expressed surprise that the R.S.A should object in the circumstances Mr. Crooks said that there had been a misunderstanding about the man to whom the transfer was to be made. —Granted. J W. Greenhill (Mr. J. W. Hannan) applied for amendment to a goons service license to permit him to cart general goods within a 30 mile radius of Greymouth Post Office on one of his present vehicle authorities. Mr. Hannan said that all that applicant wanted was the right to 'back load other goods when taking loads ot furniture within a 30 mile radius. Mi. M. B. Scully, for Westland Transport Ltd., objected to an extension of the license. Mr. Langford said that the matter could be adjusted by permission being granted by the local committee. He suggested that the application be withdrawn. He was sure there would be no difficulties in future. This course was agreed to. H. Brady and Son (Mr. A. M. Jamieson) applied for amendment to goods service license to permit him to carry up to 10 cwt., of goods on I truck carrying mails and parcels.— Granted. , B. W. A. Caulton applied for amendment to goods service license to permit him to make three traps a year to Weheka and South Westland, and five trips a year to Reefton, and return, for the cartage of skins, hides, wool, tallow, and salt, i all being licensee’s own goods. Mr. Caulton said he was at present bringing back hides from Reefton in a I trailer and considered it would be ! better to use the truck and pick up skins and hides at intermediate points. JSkins were railed from Reefton. —Decision reserved, Mr. Langford intimating that it would be granted when he had framed a suitable decision. John Dunn, Rapahoe, applied for amendment to goods service license t.o permit him to cart for local bodies in No. 12 Highways Districtmaterials on the job—in addition to the Public Works Department, unaer his present vehicle authority.—Grantcd. B. I. Cummings, Ikamatua, applied for amendment to goods service license to permit him to cart coal from the mines in the Waitahu Valley to the Reefton Railway Station, under three .of his existing vehicle authorities.—Granted, to be restricted to Waitahu Valley. Westland Transport Ltd., Greymouth, (Mr. Scully) applied for amendment to goods service license to permit the licensee to carry passengers (workmen for dredge) over I the route to Hokitika-Arahura under I Vehicle Authority No. 24325. —GrantThe passenger service license of S’. A. Coburn, Blaketown, (Mr. Taylor), was reviewed upon direction of the Minister of Transport. Mr. Taylor handed in a timetable of applicant’s services t’o Runanga, Dunollie, and Rapahoe which he said were well patronised. Evidence regarding the convenience of the present service to the public was given by Mr. S. A. O’Neill, Deputy-Mayor of Runanga, and Mr. J. T. L. McPhie. To Mr. F. G. Clark, District Traffic Manager, Railways Department, Christchurch Mr. Langford said that the service had been operating and the licensee was subject to an appeal decision. The appeal authority '.had referred ' the matter back to the Authority practically with a direction that the timetable be not altered. No objection was raised and the authority was given for the timetable as submitted to operate. The Minister of Railways represented by Mr. R. V. Frederic, manager of Road Services, Hokitika’, applied for amendment to passenger-service License No. 5124 (Greymouth—Blackball) by the deletion of the present timetable and the substitution of the one submitted to the Authority.— Granted.

The Minister of Railways applied for amendment to passenger-service License No. 4885 (Greymouth—Hokitika) to provide for the addition ,of the following Sunday timetable:

Greymouth dep. 8.45 a.m., 2.45 p.m. Hokitika arr. 9.45 a.m. 3.45 p.m.; Hokitika dep. 10.0 a.m. 4.0 p.m. Greymouth arr. 11.0 a.m. 5.0 p.m. i

Mr. Frederic said the service was mainly to enable people working in Greymouth whose homes were in Hokitika to return after spending the week-end at home. The service had keen tried on verbal authority from the Authority; and had been well patronised. . Mr. Langford said that the position was fairly acute and he did not see the necessity for running two buses each way. Mr. Vallanc'd said that the Greymouth Control Committee considered that one bus was not necessary. Mr. Frederic said the Hokitika' Committee considered that both buses should run. Asked by Mr. Langford what buses were most essential Mr. Frederic said the morning bus from Greymouth and the afternoon one from Hokitika. Authority was given for the operating ol this service only, Mr. Langford intimating that he would consider an extension if the petrol position improved. J. H. Ferguson applied for an amendment to his goods service license to enable him to cart gravel, sand, and bricks within a radius of 30 miles of the Greymouth Post Office. The application was objected to by Mr. Scully for Westland Transport Ltd and T. Croft and vyas finally withdrawn, Mr. Langford intimating that when applicant could do the job more economically he could' get the necessarv permission from the local Control Committee. TAXI OPERATORS,

J. J. Brown (Mr. Hannan) Greymouth, applied for a new taxi-cab service license for the operat'on of one taxi-cab. Mr. Brown said he had formerly held a license, but had gone into the Army in November, 1942, coming out a year later. He was a married man with four children. Since leaving the Army he had done labouring work' and had recently been working for another taxi _ proprietor. He had been taxi driving for 21 vears. To Mr. A. M. Jamieson, for the Greymouth Taxi Proprietors’ Association, witness agreed he had sold his previous license for £l5O and said a license would be worth t that to him to-day. Mr. Langford said he felt that the man to whom the license had been sold would definitely_ feel that an injury had been done him if appellant were now granted a license. Applicant said he was not aware at the time he sold the license that he could have applied for its suspension while he was away.

Mr Langford said it was des rablft that applicant should be rehabilitated back into the taxi business, but it did not seem right that he should secure a license free of charge after having sold his own. Mr. J. E. A. McKeefry. Managing Secretary of the Grey Hospital Board, gave evidence of complaints received from members of the staff regarding inability to secure taxis; and Mr. W. McKechnie. nronrietor of the Empire Hotel said that the stand was so often empty that neonle came into the hotel to ring for cars and often had to wait long periods. The position was especially bad on Sunday n'ghts. To Mr. Jamieson, witness said he had rung as many as five times on a Sunday night without getting a reply.

Mr. Jamieson submitted that there was no merit in the application. Mr. W. M. Kennedv said there were 13 taxis in Grevmouth to service approximately 8,000 people. His firm operated from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., but normally were available from S to 8.30 a.m, till midnight. He thought that, apart from when it was wet or the express was coming in, there was no shortage of taxis. He had only heard two complaints, fie had had no complaints from the Borough Council or directly from the hospital. Persons who called from Mr. McKechnie’s hotel often did not wait but hailed a cab that passed so that the taxi engaged came out for nothing. To Mr. Hannan witness said that all the. taxi proprietors but Mr. Brown’s brother objected to the application. There were other taxis besides his own on the road on Sunday. There was an arrangement with the exchange for a special rine for urgent cases at night. To Mr. Jamieson witness said the urgent call svstem ha • been instituted because of persons wanting to go home from dances and such like, calling late at n'ght. Mr.. F. D. Fitzsimmons gave evidence along similar lines. He said that a central teleohone system had been worked out. The drivers had thougi at first that they would have to have unanamity, but finally a few drivers had decided to institute the system on their own.

Mr. Langford said he would like to have the names of those who would not co-operate and he would have something to say to them. To Mr. Hannan, witness denied that it was Brown’s application which had moved them to institute the scheme. Mr. Langford said he was not prepared to grant the application, though Brown had a certain right so far as the transfer of anv other licenses likely to come before him was concerned. He was not an irresponsible, but he had sold out. and had not the right to imperil the business he had sold If he wanted to come back into the bus'ness, and that seemed desirable, he should purchase a business already in existence. Mr. Langford said he would like to indicate to the taxi proprietors of Greymouth that their present service was not satisfactory. The best methods should be adopted to give the best service to the people. He hoped the efforts to establish a central telephone system would be successful and that a better system of operating the taxi system in the public interest would be adopted. He also indicated that a rostev system so far as the Sunday service was concerned was desirable. ‘ G. F. Webster, Kennedy Bros Ltd., N. M. Morressev, J. D Perrin, T. I. Brown, J. E. Kennedy, F .D. Fitzsimons, W L. Morressev and A. W. Todd, all of Greymouth, applied for amendment of their taxi-cab service operators’ licenses to provide for a. fare schedule submitted to the Authority being made a condition of each hcenso. Mr. Jamieson appeared for the applicants and called Mr. W. M. Kennedy who presented a statement of costs’ which had risen since the table of fares was fixed in 1937. He stated that the schedule generally provided 'or an increase of 20 per cent, on the present fares. The 2s m mmum charge remained. Decision was reserved.