FOOTBALL TRANSPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 7

FOOTBALL TRANSPORT

FACILITIES FOR PLAYERS LORRY-DRIVERS' LICENCES COMMISSIONER'S STATEMENT [from our own correspondent! WHANGAREI. Sunday A deputation from the North Auckland Rugby Union waited up Mr. J. S. Hunter, Commissioner of Transport, and Mr. W. Jones, chairman of the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, last night, on the question of the transport of football players. Mr. L. A. Johnson, on behalf of the '' * deputation, said that in some of tho J country districts there were not suffi- ; cient licensed, buses available to trans- ; port players, .and the question of th<j> : ; cost for lorry-drivers to carry passen- : gers was giving the union some con- j cern. There were a number of relief ~ workers who were desirous of playing . football, and to whom a large expense ■ for travelling was impossible. Mr. Hunter, in reply, said that for years lorry-drivers had been carrying players on their own responsibility. Under the heavy traffic licences for tho , carriage of passengers, a driver might}'. have to pay £lo,or more for the year.; "However," said' Mr. Hunter, "I have made arrangements with the New Zealand Rugby Union for the payment only of the £1 certificate of fitness, and a small additional insurance premium, in all a total of about £1 10s being involved. Assuming tho vehicle is reasonably safe, there will be no other fees. !- Of course, the drivers must not exceed ; the goods carriage licensed weight of ■ their vehicle. Again, we do not intend ; to assist these lorry-drivers to en- j. croach on the routes where ordinary , passenger-vehicles are operating. I will advise all county traffic inspectors ex- . actly what the position is, and as you [ will see, we have been most s.ympathetiq " regarding this question." The deputation expressed satisfaction; : at the explanation of the position,; j_ which had not been known throughout'' the North. j