NEW TRANSPORT BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20931, 22 July 1931, Page 10

NEW TRANSPORT BILL.

STATE OF CHAOS FEARED.

AUCKLAND BOARD ANXIOUS. STEPS TO COMBAT MEASURE. ' Apprehension concerning many of the provisions of the Transport Bill n<3w before Parliament was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland Transport Board yesterday. It was decided to send representatives to Wellington to give evidence before tho Select Committee of tho House of Representatives, to which tho measure has been referred. Yesterday's proceedings of tho board were in committee, and no official statement was issued, but it was learned that the board takes tho view that if the bill goes to the Statute Book as at present drafted the entire system of transport now operating smoothly in the Auckland district will be thrown , into the melting pot, and all that lias been gained from the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926, and tho Transport Board Act, 1928, will be lost, with a return to the chaotic conditions which existed six years ago. The board also takes the view that it is incumbent upon those who urge an alteration in present conditions to show justification for the changes contemplated. It feels that its record in controlling the services within its area raises tho question why the Minister of Transport desires to assume its functions and privileges, and asks what change he proposes in tho policy which tho board is now pursuing. Increased Cost of Administration. Attention was directed at yesterday's meeting to the clauses proposing to abolish the licensing authorities set up under the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act and the licensing powers of tho Transport Board. In their place it is proposed to establish district licensing authorities consisting of persons appointed by the Minister of Transport. A new set of officials would have to be provided for each district, with greatly increased expense of administration, an aspect which the board strongly disapproves. Another clause to which objection is taken by the board is that every application in connection with a licence is required to be sent in the first instance to the Commissioner. of Transport at Wellington, who is to decide to what authority the application is to be forwarded. Such intervention by the Transport Department suggests, members consider, that in effect the decisions of the licensing authorities will be largely influenced by tho department. Tl!e proposal to institute a Transport Appeal Board is also condemned. It is asked what reason there can be for setting up the proposed expensive machinery of independent local licensing authorities if thoro is to be a Transport Appeal Board. Tho bill proposes that one member of this board shall be nominated by the owners of private services and another by tho executive committees of the Municipal Association and tho Counties Association. Proposed Appeal Board Opposed. In tho opinion of the Transport Board the position would be that public undertakings would be entirely unrepresented and their services would stand at the disposal of two persons. If tho Appeal Board acted on a majority voto the two persons could control its decisions, with the possibility of tho chairman having no say at all. It was gathered that the opinion of the Transport Board is that if thero must be an Appeal Board it should consist of five members—a Judge of the Supremo Court, a Government representative, a member nominated by the local authorities operating transport services, another representing private services, and a fifth nominated by tho executive committees of the associations named in the bill. Yet another feature of the bill which gives cause for apprehension is the proposed procedure for hearing applications by licensing authorities. As tho bill now appears such authorities may at any time decide not to hear further evidence after only one side has been heard, It is suggested that- the only argument advanced by the sponsors of the bill against the present system is that a local body is the judge in its own cause. This is considered to be an entirely false assumption.

OPPOSITION FROM NEW LYNN.

PRESENT SYSTEM UPHELD. Opposition to certain clauses in the Transport Bill was expressed at the meeting of the New Lynn Borough Council when the following resolution was passed:— "This board views the proposed legislation with ..serious apprehension, particu-. larly in its probable effects oh the Auckland Transport Board's powers of control of the passenger road transport operating in the transport district and contiguous areas, and urges that prompt steps be taken to support any representations being made toward tho deletion of any clauses affecting a continuance of the present system, which in the opinion of this council is suitable to tho conditions prevailing." _________