THE CITY LICENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 12

THE CITY LICENCES.

OBSERVING FORMALITIES. THREE WEEK'S GRACE GIVEN. .. - 0. Fourteen applications for licences to run motor-bus services to points mostly outside the Auckland tramway area were considered at a meeting of the City Motor Omnibus ■'Licensing Committee yesterday. None of the applicants was' in a position to comply strictly with the requirements of the regulations under the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, and as no provision is made for the issue of provisional licences to meet such a position the committee decided to allow a period of three weeks in which to meet the requirements of the Act. The Act requires that buses intended for passenger services shall have a certificate of fitness from tha inspecting engineer appointed for the purpose, that drivers shall be passed by medical examiners, that adequate insurance protection shall be provided to cover passengers in case of accident, and that timetables and the fares to be charged shall be submitted by the proprietors of the services .proposed to be run. i The regulations were gazettld on October 23, when the appointments of the inspecting • engineers were announced. This did not give the applicants time to comply with all the requirements and the committee yesterday decided to meet the position by granting licences, imposing such special conditions as the City Council as the licensing authority for the No. 1 district may think fit to impose, consistent with the Act and its regulations. The committee will meet again on November 22, when it is anticipated the necessary formalities will be completed. Commenting ron the position yesterday the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said it would be necessary for the licensing, authority to notify the local authorities through whose districts it was proposed to run services in order to give them an opportunity to be heard before the licences are finally granted. Yesterday's meeting had been called at the first opportunity following on the receipt of copies of the regulations and in dealing with the applications it had taken the only course open to it without depriving the districts affected of their transport services, . The Motor Omnibus Licensing Committee, which consists of tho Mayor and Messrs. T, Bloodworth, J.- Dempsey, A. J. Entrican, J. W. Court, C- F. Bennett and «T. Robertson, was set up by the council two weeks ago to deal with motor traffic matters referred to it by the council and to report. on applications for licences received. The first meef.mer of the council, sitting as the licensing authority for the No. 1 district, will be held on November 24, when all applications received will come forward *for consideration. . < • There is now some doubt whether anv of the provisional licences contemplated by the committee will be issued, as it is understood that subsequent to the meeting the committee received lesral advice against takincr this course. However, it is believed that all tho apdicants who have, as far as nossible, complied with the law are not to have their services disturbed although operating without licences.