NEW LICENSES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3895, 28 April 1937, Page 7

NEW LICENSES

GOODS SERVICE APPLICATIONS. AUTHORITY’S TE AWAMUTU SITTING. To-day’s sifting of the Transport Licensing Authority at Te Awamutu is being devoted to new applications for goods service licenses. Mr E. J. .Phelan has with him as secretary Mr R. H. Nicholls, while Mr Crouch represents the Railway Department, Mr Walsh, the Cartiers’ Association, Mr R. Metcalfe for the Transport Department, and local members of the Bar are attending as representatives of various individual applicants. The first case dealt with was that of C. W. Kite, Te Awamutu, whose counsel explained that Kite had, since lodging his application for renewal, become bankrupt and later discharged. It was now asked that the application for renewal be struck out, and that approval be given his application for one authority only.—The Carriers’ Association offered no objection.—Approved. S. M. Kidd, Te Awamutu, said he had been a road contractor, and associated with carrying enterprises for about 14 years. He now did a lot of work for the P.W.D., but wanted a general license. Mr Walsh contended that the work likely to be offering was already adequately catered for. The Carriers’ Association suggested that any license should confine Kidd to P.W.D. work. The Authority said Kidd had been operating on temporary license. Mr Metcalfe said the P.W.D. officials wanted unrestricted areas in the Waikato and King Country. Mr .Phelan said that an operator had no right, when P.W.D. work became slack, to come and expect a general license, merely because a truck was owned. There was no moral claim. He estimated that there were thousands of such trucks in the Dominion. If all were licensed there would be chaos and uneconomic conditions in districts already adequately served. However, Kidd has a moral claim, and he would be granted a license for a restricted area.

The applications ot E. J. Krippner, Te Rore, and S. U. Picken, Kihikihi, were withdrawn, as also was one on behalf of W. J. Dally, Te Awamutu (now deceased). F. R. Cavanagh, Puahue, asked (through his counsel) for one vehicle authority, and only needed a restricted area. Previously he had not needed a license. He was willing to join the Carriers’ Association if granted a license. His was a specialised service.

To Mr Walsh, applicant said he had been carrying milk for three years and general goods for nearly three years, besides calves, for two season. Last season he carried 1500 calves along one route. He had not cut calf carting rates.

At this stage further consideration was deferred for a conference, Mr Phelan remarking that he realised the Carriers’ Association had been very reasonable and considerate. F. S. Bird, Te Rore, wanted one vehicle authority.—Granted without opposition.

L. H. Dobbs, Puahue, asked for a continuous license, but the Carriers' Association opposed it.—Decision deferred to permit of a conference.

A Kihikihi carrier, A. Jennings, “about the oldest operator in the district,” was granted two vehicle authorities, without opposition.

A. P. Bond, Te Awamutu, did not appear in support of his application, but it was stated he needs a license (according- to the law), to carry milk for a neighbour. Both live on a side road—A route license was granted. When W. R. Fraser’s application came forward, the Carriers’ Association announced very definite opposition.

Mr Preston, for applicant, said he had been cine of a family of operators ■at Korakonui for eleven years, but in the past four years he had resided in Te Awamutu, operating for local bodies. No license was then necessary, but amending legislation now made it compulsory. He had not been engaged in general cartage outside the restricted area of six miles.

To Mr Walsh, Fraser said he was employed by the Te Awamutu Dairy Co. at award rates. He worked each day at the factory, and for the last two nights operated the truck for several hours because his driver had left him. The driving was a temporary expedient. Counsel argued that it was unfair to restrict a licensed carrier to driving- his own truck, or to have nd other means of livelihood. Many carriers had other sources of revenue, some even acting as land-agents. The legislation did not make any such unfair restrictions. Fraser’s was a legitimate application. The Authority said he was not very favourably impressed with the application. Fraser’s position was contrary to the intention of the Act—fair competition. While employed for a firm, he was employing another man to carry on a business. The application would be declined. H. H. Watts, Hauturu, was granted his application without opposition. Some other cases are the subject cf conference and the sitting will resume this afternoon. PASSENGER SERVICES. Amendment of the passenger services between Kihikihi and Te Awamutu to enable the applicant to extend the present service to Tokanui Hospital was asked for by L. Hodgson. Fares were quoted, and it was proposed to make tw-o trips daily with an extra one on Fridays:—The application was granted without opposition, as also was an application to increase the .load for one vehicle on the Hamilton'-Te Awamutu service to 25 passengers.