TRANSPORT POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 12

TRANSPORT POLICY

QUESTION OF CONTROL LICENSING AUTHORITIES APPOINTMENTS EXPIRING The term of office of the various transport licensing authorities throughout New Zealand, with the exception of those appointed to control metropolitan districts, expires on February 28. In view of the declaration by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, that "tho wholo transport system is most unsatisfactory," ft measure of uncertainty is attached to tho question of possible future appointments to the licensing bodies. Apart from the metropolitan authorities, there are 10 transport licensing bodies in various parts of the Dominion, 0110 of them, the Central Licensing Authority, being a "one-man" board with Mr. J. A. C. Allum, of Auckland, as the sole member. The appointments are gazetted annually under the Transport Licensing Act and are for a period of 12 months. In the case of metropolitan areas," existing bodies —the Transport Board in Auckland and the City Councils in the other main centres —arc the authorities and their membership in each case is liable to change at each local body election. An Interim Application

A few flays ago Mr. Semple announced the immediate suspension of the functions of the»Transport Coordination Board pending the enactment of new legislation reconstructing tho scheme of transport control. He added that a committee of Cabinet Ministers and departmental officers was examining proposals for an improved system, but that district licensing authorities would not be affected as far as ordinary business, including the renewal of licences, was concerned. However, thoso in touch with the licensing system are inclined to think that the latter part of the Minister's statement, referring to the activities of district authorities, is likely to have only an interim application. They point out that a complete review of the transport legislation may give rise to a desire for more centralised control. In this respect there is already talk of the possibility of only two licensing authorities, one for ench island. Amendment to Act Tho recasting of the present system in such a direction would require amendments to the Transport Licensing Act and, as the term of office of the licensing oauthorities ends on February 28, bofore the first session of the new' Parliament opens, the authorities may remain in office, with or without changes in membership, until the Government's committee can dress its proposals for a new transport licensing system into legislative shape. Pronouncements by various members of tho Government indicate that the railways will have even a larger voice in transport matters than they have had hitherto.