SERVICE TO TAUPO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 11

SERVICE TO TAUPO

APPEAL MADE TO BOARD COMPANY'S CASE STATED ADJOURNMENT FOR WEEK An appeal against the refusal of the No. 2 Licensing Authority to grant a licence for a road freight service between Auckland and Taupo was heard by the Transport Co-ordination Board yesterday. Under the provisions of the Act by which the appellant company claimed the right to continue its service until the appeal was heard, the company has been able to carry on its service since July, 1933. Mr. Justice Frazer, acting-chairman of the board, presided, and with him was associated Mr. L. Alderton. After certain argument had been heard the hearing was adjourned for a week, when the views of the Taupo residents will be heard.

Tho appellant was the AucklandTaupo Transport Company, Limited (Mr. Finlay). The appeal was opposed by the Railways Board (Mr. Aickin), the Waikato and Waipa County Councils (Mr. Nicholson), the Matamata County Council (Mr. Fitzgerald), and the Rotorua-Taupo Freight Company, Limited (Mr. Potter). The appellant originally applied for a route licence from Taupo to Auckland, but in July, 1933, was granted an area licence to operate in the Puta-ruru-Taupo area only. It appealed against this restriction of its service, and, this appeal not having yet been dealt with, the appellant was able to continue its full servjee temporarily. Last October the No. 2 Licensing Authority refused a renewal of the appellant's licence and a further appeal was lodged. It was this second appeal that formed the main business before the board yesterday. " Cost ol Living Involved "

The application did not exclusively concern the appellant, said Mr. Finlay. The township of Taupo was particularly concerned, dependent as it was for the necessaries of life on road transport. Its residents were profoundly interested in the means by which their goods were conveyed and in the economic costs involved.

Taupo was already one of the dearest places in the Dominion in which to live, and any aggravation of the costs of living would be' a serious matter. The inhabitants desired to deal with Auckland rather than with Napier. Owing to certain road restrictions, appellant was forced to run its services via Rotorua, but, even so, was able to make lower charges than were made by the Railway Department combined with the company operating from Rotorua to Taupo. The business interests of the township were likely to suffer in competition with other such resorts if economic costs could not be kept down. The flexibility of the appellant's service had very material said Mr. Finlay. He claimed as a minor point at a previous hearing at Rotorua the residents of Taupo had not been given a full opportunity of stating their own case, and he asked that the case be sent back to the Licensing Authority to give it a further opportunity to hear that point of view. The service was one entitled to a licence under the peculiar circumstances obtaining. It was economic and had been running satisfactorily since 1932. As a major point, he asked that the appeal be granted. Adjournment To Taupo ,

Opposing the appeal for the RotoruaTatipo Freight Company, Mr. Potter claimed that ample opportunity had been given for Taupo residents to present their case during the hearing at Rotorua. At this stage the question of the need for the presentation of further evidence was discussed and the board retired to consider that point. On its return, Mr. Justice Frazer said the board had decided that it was not necessary to hear further evidence except in special circumstances. Such evidence as had been taken seamed very complete, with, perhaps, the exception of an investigation of freight costs by the parties concerned. He would,, however, suggest an adjournment to Taupo for the hearing of the case of the residents of the township. The afternoon session was occupied with a closer investigation of freight costs and other figures relative to the position, a number of special tables being submitted by the Railways Board. The appellant was also questioned closely as to the financial aspect of the company's business, while the Rotorua-Taupo Freight Company submitted a statement as to the nature of its'loads and costs. - The hearing was adjourned until January 17, at Taupo, at which session, said Mr. Justice Frasier, evidence would be takeij from Taupo residents as "Court witnesses," and not'm any way as witnesses for the appellant. Opportunity would also be given at that hearing for the various interests to address the board.