TRANSPORT LICENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25386, 18 November 1943, Page 4

TRANSPORT LICENCES

PREFERENCE TO SERVICEMEN PART OF REHABILITATION POLICY

(P A.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 17. A statement that the recent amendment to the Transport Licensing Emergency Regulations empowering the licensing authorities to giVe first preference to applications by returned servicemen for new road transport licences had been introduced primarily for the purpose of assisting in the rehabilitation of discharged men was made to-day by the Minister of Transport, Mr J. O’Brien. “Many of the returned men have had valuable experience in operating mechanical transport in. the armed services, and are now anxious to follow the open-air life offered in the road transport industry,” the Minister said. “When considering applications for new licences or for the transfer of existing licences the licensing authorities now have to give definite preference to discharged servicemen. “The regulations also give power to the licensing authorities to control the selling prices of existing transport businesses,” Mr O’Brien said. “Owing to the petrol and tyre restrictions, which have enhanced the values of many services, vendors are asking in some cases exorbitant prices for so-called goodwill, and the Government is determined that men who have fought for our liberties should not be exploited.”