CONTROL OF TRANSPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18252, 22 November 1933, Page 11

CONTROL OF TRANSPORT

VARIETY OF APPLICANTS LICENSING AUTHORITY SITS A variety of applications for licenses for road transport services were considered by the No. 4 District Transport Licensing Authority sitting at Gisborne to-day, the business being confined, however, to matters affecting tho transport of goods. In several instances, the applicants to-day had previously secured licenses for their main routes, but roI quired an extension of their powers under license to meet seasonal demands. The authority comprises Messrs. F. B. I.ogan, chairman, Charles Matthews and M. S. Chambers, who have been in office as members of the licensing tribunal since last year, and whose association in that connection is to be broken shortly by the resignation of the chairman and Mr. Chambers, announced in yesterday’s issue of the Herald. A seasonal demand was responsible for the application of E. F. Krause, of Te Karaka, for a license for an additional vehicle to operate in the Waikohu and Cook Counties. Mr S. V. Beaufoy appeared for the applicant, and intimated that the business offering could not be handled during the summer with the applicant’s regular truck, and that he wished permission to use an additional vehicle on occasions. ■ln connection with the application of the Gisborne-Opotiki-Whakatane Transport Company, Mr Beaufoy pointed out that the name of the company had been changed, put that, the shareholders had remained the same. The company also had secured a mail contract between Gisborne and Opotiki, and required to use another vehicle. Mr Beaufoy added that the company desired the right to pick up cheese at Waimana and bacon at Opotiki for delivery at Gisborne, and he asked whether the authority would clear up the point, which had been left obscure by the correspondence with the authority during recent weeks. The chairman stated that the intention of the authority was that the applicant could pick up cheese and bacon, as stated by Mr Beaufoy, the objection being to their setting down goods in the restricted area on route.

When the application of E. S. Rasmussen for a license for the Mangapoike road, was again called, Mr S. V. Beaufoy stated to the authority that on condition that Mr Rasmussen would agree not to carry small parcels or passengers, his client, Mr Shackleton, was prepared to withdraw his opposition to the license. Mr L. C. Parker, on behalf of the applicant, gave the required .assuflance. Mr Parker mentioned that up to 1020 the applicant had been the only motor lorry operator on the Mangapoike road, and that the advent of one of his competitors to tho license was due 10. the applicant entering into a partnership with him in 1020. The partnership being dissolved later, applicant continued to do well until in 1032 ho became seriously ill, from which time ho had been unable to operate, consequently losing his opportunity to secure an automatic license. He was now advised that he could resume tho work, and wished to secure a license for the Mangapoike road. Applicant gave evidence on these lines, and stated that he had carted the wool of one station,, which had over 500 bales, for several years prior to the illness which he had suffered. Under cross-examination by Mr ■Chris'p, applicant admitted that he had changed the classification of his license for heavy traffic, and that he had been lined in connection with a traffic offence. lie claimed that lie could secure work on the road if lie were in a position to tender for woolcarting contracts.

Re-examined by Mr Parker, applicant mentioned that if he secured a license he would be able to make a profit at the same rates as other tenderers, having a firewood business which could be worked in with tho wool-carrying.

In reply to the chairman of the authority, applicant stated that he had pioneered the road service through the Mangapoike. To Mr W. F. Scott, traffic inspector, applicant admitted that the last occasion on which he had had a license for a full quarter was more than a year ago. In most quarters, he had had a license for only two months. The question of the ownership of the truck being raised, Mr Parker stated that the vehicle was owned by Mrs Rasmussen, the applicant’s wife. The chairman commented that this fact must “blow out” the present application. Mr Parker asked the authority to consider whether it could agree to an amendment of the application, replacing Rasmussen’s name with that of his wife. The chairman stated that the matter would be considered.