TRANSPORT BILL AMENDED

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 12

TRANSPORT BILL AMENDED

HASTENING PASSAGE IN HOUSE MINISTER CONFERS WITH OPPOSITION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 13. After the consultation with representatives of the Opposition today the Transport Law Amendment Bill was substantially modified when it came before the House of Representatives this afternoon for its second reading. The clauses relating to road safety have been retained but the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) agreed to eliminate several of the more contentious provisions, notably that about the registration of bicycles and that about the proposal to issue motor-drivers’ licences through the post offices. An important amendment gives the Minister power to define traffic districts comprising an area with 15 miles from a principal post office and containing at least 6000 residents. In these traffic districts licence fees are collected by the various local bodies within the area defined and handed to the controlling authority, less 1/- for each fee collected. In other cases the local bodies are entitled tb the fee they collect. Another amendment removes the clause giving the Minister power to prohibit the closing of roads by local bodies.

. At the request of the acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) the House agreed to dispose of the second reading without discussion except for a short explanatory statement by the Minister of Transport, and to discuss details during the committee stages. Mr Semple said that in view of the opposition to certain clauses and with a view to facilitating its passage through the House with the minimum of delay and as a result of consultation with members of the Opposition, the Government was prepared to make considerable amendments to the Bill. TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. The Minister then outlined the proposed changes. He said that in connection with the dropping of the clause dealing with the issue of drivers’ licence fees, it was only fair that these moneys should be used largely for traffic enforcement and he proposed to arrange for letters to be sent to all counties outlining the position. He expected a satisfactory response from local bodies.

In the discussion on the short title Mr S. G. Holland (Nat.. Christchurch North) said that as one of the members of the Opposition who had negotiated with Mr Semple, he wanted to express his appreciation of the conciliatory manner in which the Minister met them. Referring to ancillary services, Mr Holland said there had been a good deal of anxiety on the part of these operators that they might lose their services but he thought they could rest assured that there would be no organized attempt to interfere with their legitimate rights. “I . want to thank the Minister on behalf of 40,000 to 50,000 users of bicycles in Christchurch for giving way on the clause relating, to the registration of cycles, which has been dropped,” said Mr Holland.

After some discussion on points ol detail in the committee stages the Bill was agreed to, went to the third reading and was passed with the amendments outlined.