LICENSING OF INDUSTRIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 14

LICENSING OF INDUSTRIES

DECISIONS OF BUREAU PROVISION FOR APPEALS SIR FRANCIS FRAZER APPOINTED (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON. June 18. A statement was made to-day by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D. G. Sullivan) concerning appeals against the licensing decisions of the Bureau of Industry, which is the licensing authority under the provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act. “ I have pleasure in announcing,” Mr Sullivan said, “ the appointment of Sir Francis Frazer, deputy chairman of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, as a person to inquire into and report to, me on the subject matter of any appeal which may be lodged against decisions of the

Bureau of Industry in connection with applications for licences in respect of those industries which are gazetted under the terms of the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, as subject to licence. “ Some 15 industries have been so gazetted,” the Minister continued, “so it will be readily understood that, with the large number of decisions which the bureau is continually giving in respect of applications for licences, numbers of appeals are being received. The Minister of Industries and Commerce is the appeal authority, but in terms of section 21 of the Act he may appoint any person to inquire into and report to him upon the subject matter of the appeal or upon any matter in relation thereto for the purposes of the appeal. Any person so appointed has the powers of a commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. 1908. ' “It is my earnest desire,” Mr Sullivan said, “to see that any person who appeals against any decision of the bureau shall have his case weighed up carefully and justly, and for that purpose I have decided to appoint an independent authority who will examine each applicant subject to an appeal in a judicial and impartial manner. I am confident that the appointment of Sir Francis Frazer in such a capacity will meet with general approval. Although the final decision of each appeal rests with the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the report and recommendation of the authority appointed to examine each case will naturally be given very careful consideration in making that decision. “Mr Justice Frazer,” the Minister concluded, “ will commence immediately the examination of the limited number of appeals which have been received to date, so that I expect to be able to convey the decisions to the interested parties very shortly.”