CARRIERS’ LICENSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19123, 18 September 1936, Page 10

CARRIERS’ LICENSES

NEW REGULATIONS SURVEY BY MINISTER EXEMPTIONS EXPLAINED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Jn an interview' to-day, the Minister of Transport, Iho Hun. 1L Semple, Referred to tho amendment to the existing regulations relating to the licensing ol goods-serviecs which appeared in the goods transport regulations published in a Gazette order this year. Ah-. Semple said the order which was gazetted on duly 18. 1936, provided that goods-serviccs ill which goods are hauled solely within a radius of six miles from the chief post office of any borough or town district, or within four miles in special areas surrounding the four main cities, do not come under the licensing system. “In view of the ,representations that have- been made to me recently by the four new licensing authorities, who have, just completed inspections, of the respective districts, and by various interested organisations, it lias, been decided, sa.id the Minister, “to abolish the six miles from a post office exemption, except m the ease of the following towns:— Whangarei, Hamilton, Rotorua, Gisborne Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, blaster ton. Nelson, Grevmouth, Timarn, Gamara am Invercargill. The four special exempted areas around tho four main cities remain unaltered; so also does the statutory exemption of good services carried on enIlively within the boundaries of a borough or town district. LACK OF CONTROL “The main reason for the. alteration, is the fact that local authorities in the smaller towns- exercise virtually no control over local .carriers. Inquiries show that of a, total of 134 borough and town districts of under 6000 population only 36 have by-laws controlling local carriers, and very few of these use their byla,w powers. As a- result of this lack of control, it is virtually impossible to maintain reasonable standards of driving hours, wages, vehicle fitness, etc., on services that come under tho licensing provisions. “The new provisions,” continued Mr. Semple, “cotuo into cited on Friday, September 18 and I would urge carriers who will now require licenses to lodge applications with the Commissioner of Transport, Wellington, without delay. I would point out, however, that carriers who do not run beyond the boundaries ol any borough or town district do not require licences'. “The question of the future policy to bo followed in respect of larger towns where the six miles exemption still applies and the special exempted areas around the-lour main cities will depend on the results of the investigation I have arranged to be carried out m these cases.”