LICENSED CARRIERS

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 5

LICENSED CARRIERS

MANGONUI ASSOCIATION

SCHEDULE OF CHARGES.

A meeting of the Mangonui County Licensed Carriers’ Association was held in Foster’s Rooms, Kaitaia, on Thursday evening, Mr A. H. Stanton presiding over an attendance of 25 members.

The secretary (Mr Roy Kelly) said that he had on inquiry learned that there were about- 90 heavy traffic licenses in sthe county, including school buses. To obtain particular information about transport licenses it would be necessary to apply to- the commissioner of Transport and the cost would be 17 in each case, or a total of over £4.

The chairman stated that he had interviewed Mr Treadgold, the inspector, about addressing meeting of operators on the transport laws and he had expressed his willingness to help them in any way he could. Mr Treadgold had emphasised that the inspectors were out to educate, not prosecute the operators. On the motion of Mr Beard it was decided to thank the inspector. Mr Beard said he thought it necessary to obtain particulars of the licenses in force in the county, but it was pointed out that much of the information required could be obtained from- the operators themselves. It was decided, to write to each operator requesting that a copy of his license forwarded to the secretary.

A letter was received from the Bay of Islands Carriers’ Association, expressing satisfaction that an association had been formed in the Mangonui county. If, the letter stated, Whangarca would fall into line there would be five associations in the north and it was suggested that delegates from each meet and form a parent body governing the whole of the associations. A list of charges approved by the Bay of Islands was submitted for comment or criticism. Mr McFarlane, the secretary, offered to call a conference at a time and place most convenient to all. A letter was received from Mr Treadgold explaining what was required of an operator holding a goods license.

It was pointed cut by the chairman that until a license had been granted an operator could not . legally ' carry goods excepting in the case -of a renewal. A man who already held a license and had applied for a renewal could continue carrying sfiEter the expiration of the period covered by his license until his application had been dealt with by the authority. In answer to Mr Lamely the secretary stated that the subscription for membership of the association was 10/ for ofie truck, 15/ for two trucks, £1 for three trucks with a maximum of £1 1/.

The rules as prepared by the secretary were read and on the motion of Mr W. Christiansen, seconded, by Mr J. Rogers, were. adopted. r ' On the motion of Mr Wells, Mr W. H. Atkins was appointed auditor. A schedule of prices to be charged by operators for different classes of work, as submitted by the committee, was placed before the meeting, and was carefully considered in all particulars.

With regard to manures the chairman said the charges proposed were less than those ruling in some parts of the county today and, for other parts were about the same. The prices narhed AV'ete the minimum and could be exceeded if. in the opinion of the operator, higher prices were justified. On it being mentioned by a member that the proposed price for carting wool from one district was well below the rate prevailing last year an amendment was made. Mr Bowman said the size of bales and the load were factors, which should count. He was of the opinion that it would be difficult to get more than the minimum rate fixed by the association, once the minimum was known.

Mr Beard: It must be borne in mind that the schedule has to be approved by the Transport Authority. With regard to the carting of Mr Lambly said it was very hard to judge the weight of a load and either there should be a weigh bridge or an operator should be allowed to carry so many porkers or so many baconers. The. chairman: The best way is to keep under the weight, Mr Treadgold has given the number of calves, lambs or sheep which can be carried to the ton. With calves, 34 are allowed and the inspector, who had obtained averages from the Moerewa works, had stuck to that.

The schedule of charges with slight amendments, was approved.

It was decided to write thanking the Bay of Islands Association for their letter and approving of the suggested conference. Messrs Stanton and Kelly were appointed delegates. A resolution was passed on the motion of Mr Gunson that the Mangonui County Council be approached and asked to consider the question of basing contract metal carting on Public Works rates.

Mr Kelly was appointed solicitor to the association.

Mr Lambly, referring to the rule which gave the association the right to strike an operator off the list of members, asked if the person concerned could then become a free lanpe to the injury. of other operators. Mr Beard: He would be up against the whole power- of the association and would have the standing of a man who had been kicked out.