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Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1932, Page 4

Referring to the fact that the Transport Licensing Act comes into force on March Ist., and the necessity of operators of motor transpoit services throughout New Zealand to at once comply at once with the requirements thereof, the Minister of Transport, Mo n . J. G. Coates, said that artliough over 400 applications for licenses had been received it was apparent that many were in doubt whether their services came under the .scope of the Act, or that they had overlooked the necessity of lodging applications. Those running transport services are reminded that no passenger service can he legally carried on after March 1, 1902. unless a license is lirst obtained under the new Act. The definition of passenger .service under the Act includes, broadly speaking all passenger vehicles for hire save those vehicles which are genuinely taxis; that is to say, which are available to go (anywhere and ate hired out as a whole instead of by the seat. Kven vehicles engaged usually as taxis come within the definition, if on any occasion they run on defined routes at separate fares. A license would ho necessary for the latter service. The size of the vehicle or the I arc levied does not come into the question under the Transport Licensing Act of last session. Vehicles used solely for the carriage of school children and their teachers, and vehicles (other than taxis) which arc hired out lor the whole vehicle to iiiilc'ter.ninfd rTestinntic’s do not require to he licensed under the Act, hut certificates of fitness must he obtained in respect of them, and applications should he lodged as soon i is possible. Although part I'll of the Act gives power for the control ol goods services lor hire, this part u'U not he administered until the pass’"g cf all Order-in-Coimcil. At the present time, and until iurther notice, owners of goods so ,- vi ~f' s whje'i do not carry passengers for hire do not require to take any action under 11,0 Act. All op'rators running passenger services of any kind, however,

whether they have received , notification or not, would he well advised to ascertain definitely at the earliest possible date- their position under tlio Act. The licensing authorities to he appointed under the Act will he set up in the very near future, and applications for licenses will be thoroughly investigated by them, and dealt with before March 1. Operators are also reminded that their passenger service licenses cannot be issued until the vehicles engaged have been inspected and certificates of fitness granted.