Transport Appeal Allowed

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1940, Page 2

Transport Appeal Allowed

f Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day.

The Minister tor Transport (Mr Semple) has allowed a joint appeal by hundreds of Northland farmers against .a decision of the No. 1 Licensing Authority (Mr E. J. Phelan), fixing a schedule of rates for goods service operators in all areas north of and including Waitemata County. Advice of this h.as been received by Farmers’ Union officials in Auckland, members of the Union having been associated with the appeal. Review of Schedule Mr Semple said: “It was intended, 'following an interim decision in regard to this appeal, that the Licensing Authority should review the schedule. “I find, however, that the prescribed procedure was not followed •when the matter was previously before the Licensing Authority, and it is necessary, therefore, to allow the appeal. The authority’s decision is reversed.” The Minister took similar .action

some time ago when he referred back to the authority a decision fixing i cartage rates in South Auckland, on the ground that the operators concerned were given inadequate notice. Against Weight of Evidence When the Minister’s decision was communicated to him today, the president of. the, Whangarei Sub-provincial Executive' of the Farmers’ Union (Mr

A. Briscoe Moore) said that the petition had been signed by several hundreds cl farmers in the area.

This action had. been taken because it was considered the rates fixed were against the weight of evidence produced at the hearing. Ii was suggested, he understood, that there should be a national tribunal- to .deal with the whole question of transport charges for the information of the licensing authorities. The schedule of rates as fixed was full of anomalies of all sorts. Effective Evidence Mr Moore said he was glad to hear that the appeal had. been allowed. The Farmers’ Union had put a tremendous amount of work into ascertaining what would be fair costs and would be-able to offer effective evidence on all points. Gratification that the views of farmers were still being heard by the Minister was expressed tills morning by the president of the Whangarei branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr N. Horrobin).

Mr Horrofcin said that the Minister’s action showed that the weight of opinion of farmers, who were behind much of {he livelihood of carriers, was not being disregarded. “It is now up to the Farmers’ Union to bring forward their evidence and back up the appeal,” he -said.

Axis Consuls.—An announcement was made by Mr. Martin Dies, head of the committee for Investigating UnAmerican Activities, that he would open an investigation in Washington next week into lire activities of Italian and German consuls in the United States.