USE OF INFLUENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23221, 15 December 1938, Page 17

USE OF INFLUENCE

TRANSPORT CONTROL INTERVENTION BY M.P. REBUKE FROM AUTHORITY ALLEGED PRIVATE APPEAL [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] HASTINGS, Wednesday Intervention on the part of members of Parliament or any other persons 1 who might endeavour to influence him will not be tolerated by the No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr. P. , Skoglund, who made this clear at a sitting in Hastings this morning. In view of the authority's statement, carriers present at a later stage expressed concern over the manner in which, it was alleged, a man who had been refused a licence had approached the Hon. W. E. Barnard," Speaker of the House of Representatives and member for Napier, and had subsequently succeeded in an appeal heard by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, at a private deputation, in Napier. When Mr. Skoglund made his statement the applicant, Joseph Arrell, was appearing before him for a goods service licence. It was recalled by Mr. Skoglund that a similar request by the same applicant had been refused on September 25. The authority in the meantime had received »5k letter from Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P., asking him to do his best for the applicant. Will Not Be Influenced "I made a public statement some time ago, and I want to repeat it, that if there is any intervention on the part of members of Parliament, or by any other person who tries to exercise influence, I will refuse to hear the application," said Mr. Skoglund. "It is a very poor opinion shown by the applicant of the integrity and honesty of the authority if he goes to. a member of Parliament or some other person who he thinks has influence.

"I want to say emphatically that intervention of this sort is the greatest disservice that can be done for. any applicant. I am not going to have it, and I want people to understand that I am not going to be influenced. If a member of Parliament or any other man thinks he can help an applicant he can come and get into the witness box." Carriers Concerned At a later stage in the sitting the , question of appeal was raised by Mr. C. J. Wilkie, representing the Road Transport Alliance, who said carriers were concerned about the position. _ Recently Mr. Green had applied to No. 2 Authority for a licence and this had been declined. Since then, however, he had interviewed Mr. Barnard and appealed to Mr. Semple on the occasion of his last visit to the district. The allowing of an appeal at a private deputation in Napier had given rise to considerable adverse comment among transport operators in the district. It was alleged that in granting appeals in this manner a total disregard was shown for the authorities' findings. Mr. Skoglund said the Minister could not deal with an appeal unless it had gone through the proper form. Monopoly or Dictatorship Mr. Wilkie said the position made • one wonder whether the whole thing was subject to political consideration. Mr. Skoglund: If the Minister likes to give a different decision from that of the authority we cannot help it. . Mr. R- Sherwood said that in the case of Mr. Green the carriers heard ho intended appealing and were preparing to oppose the appeal, but before thev knew any more the Minister had granted the appeal in Napier. He asked whether it was correct to say the whole thing was a monopoly or a dictatorship. Mr. Skoglund: I cannot say that, butI believe the Minister's decision is final. By that I mean an appeal cannot be carried to the Privy Council.