TRANSPORT LICENSES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3893, 23 April 1937, Page 7

TRANSPORT LICENSES

OTOROHANGA AND DISTRICT. THE AUTHORITY’S DECISION. Mr E. J. Phelan, as No. 1 Licensing Authority, sat at Te Kuiti on Wednesday. Mr Phelan said there appeared to be a number of fresh applications for licenses, and very definite evidence of shortage of operators would have to be called to warrant new licenses. If he continued to grant new licenses, then he was going to create the very position that the Legislature had intended to eliminate. He advised each man with a fresh application to see the local Carriers’ Association, and it it decided not to raise any objection, then he would probably consider the matter favourably. AN APPLICATION REFUSED. The application of S. E. Martin to cart general goods in the Otorohanga County was refused. Mr Trapski said that though this man had joined the Carriers’ Association in Otorohanga, the Association objected to his being granted a license --it was held there were plenty of operators to carry out the work in that district. The applicant had only been carting for a few months. Giving evidence, Martin said that he had been living in Otorohanga for a number ot years, where he had been driving for his fattier. Mr Phelan: Is your father still operating" Martin: Yes. Mr Phelan: Then we must protect jour father as well as the other carriers. Application declined. OBJECTION OVERRIDDEN. E. J. Peterson applied for the right to carry goods for the Government to Lee’s Block and to other small farms schemes within the Waitomo County. The Carriers’ Association objected to the granting of this license. For Peterson, Mr Mackersey said during the busy season other carriers were not available for this carting to the small farms schemes—someone who was in Te Kuiti was required to take the goods. Also, .Peterson had been a town carrier operating within the five mile limit. Now that provision had been cut out, so that his area was now restricted to the borough alone.

Mr Dennison lield that the carriers at present on the road could do this work satisfactorily. Mr Phelan, however, held that in tlie circumstances Peterson, as air-old established carrier, had a moral fight to a license, and gave him a license to cart material and equipment lor Government departments and local authorities in the Waitomo County. He commented that the Association should exercise a general control over Peterson’s activities—it was- not its policy to define restricted areas. RESTRICTED LICENSE IN HANGATIKI. The application of H. E. Beable for general carting rights in Hqngatiki was refused, and his license was granted only for the bulk carriage of cream from Te Kuiti to Otorohanga and for the carriage of lim? to the Hangatiki station, with rights to carry parcels up to 28 lbs. For the Otorohanga Carrims' Association, Mr Trapski contended that so long as Beable had enough work with Ihe carriage of lime he was satisfied, but when the season was slack lie-slip-ped in some manure carting Beable admitted that he had carried manure when requested to do so by farmers. He wished the right to back cart manure to local settlers maintaining that Marwood, who lived at Waitomo Caves, was quite unable to cope with the work offering. To Mr Trapski lie admitted Hint one of his lorries had taken a party of Maoris to Kinohaku on a Sunday, charging 5s a head. Mr Phelan said that, from his own admissions, Beable scarcely seemed a man to whom a license should be granted—he had no license to carry passengers. W. B. Marwood contended that he and the other two carriers operating in that area were able to cope with the work. Beable questioned him about working long hours, but this Marwood denied.

Commenting that from his evidence Beable was treating his license as a scrap of paper, Mr Phelan gran.ed him a restricted license only. CARTING OF PIGS. Objections were raised bj- the Carriers’ Association to the application ct the King Country Auctioneering Co. to cart pigs to the rail at Te Kuiti. J. O’Halloran said that the pigs were only carried when otliei carriers were not available. R. Bishop and L. Laurenson gave evidence that, though the Association were not worried about this company carting to the sales at their- own Dig yards, it was a pig agency 'and cut carting prices, with the result tlfat other buyers were losing business. O’Halloran denied carting pigs at such “ridiculous" prices as hud been quoted, and said at least 60 pgr cent ot his fat pigs were taken by carriers, who were given as much woik as nos sible. Mr Phelan advised a conference to be held on the matter. Later in the day Mr Dennison announced that the King Country Auctioneering-Co. was prepared to join the Association ahd confer witli it in the matter- ot Tarrage. With tills assurance the Association would withdraw its objection. Mr Phelan granted the company the right to cart pigs only in the Wai--tomo County, tiie authority being for a vehicle of 15 cwt capacity. The Otorohanga Association objected to a somewhat similar case in their district. R. T. Davis also held a pig agency and wanted a right tb take pigs in to the rail. He said" that the local carriers could not be depended upon to catch the afternoon train. Evidence was given by two Otorolianga pig carriers, Cowley and Pres ton, that the pig carriers operating could supply a sufficient service. Mr .Phelan decided to adjourn the ease for three months, debarring the applicant from carting in the mean, time. During that time Dav 13 would have an opportunity to report any cases where lie felt that local operators could not. do the work, and these would be considered when the ease was re-opened.