ROAD SERVICES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1932, Page 9

ROAD SERVICES

THE LICENSING AUTHORITY FIRST STRATFORD MEETING ONE APPLICATION REFUSED CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS ACT The first meeting of the No. 5 district licensing authority set up under the recent Transport Act was held at Stratford yesterday to consider applications by service car proprietors to run services over various routes in Taranaki. The only application definitely refused was that of Mr. A. Blackmore (Hawera) to run a service between Hawera and New Plymouth. Eight applications were granted on certain conditions. The authority will sit at New Plymouth on Monday. Those present at the meeting were Mr. P. Thomson (Stratford), chairman, Mr. J. C. Rolleston (Te Kuiti), Major A. R. A. Wilson (Bulls) and Mr. C. A. Turner (Public Works Department, secretary). _ 1 Through the passing of the Act and the appointment of district committees, said the chairman, a new institution had been put into action and he thought that at the first meeting of the authority it was only right that an indication of the procedure to .be followed should be given. “It is obvious to all sections of the community that for some years there has been considerable wastage in the transport system, both rail and road, and -it is time that: there should be co-ordination among the various services given the community,” Mr. Thomson said. ■ To anyone who had observed the transport services recently it . would, have been clear that the trains had been running with very small complements, and the same had often applied •to service cars, Mr. Thomson continued. Those facts showed that some action was necessary on the part of the Government iry order to save wastage and to see that the services were co-ordin-ated for the benefit of the public and proprietors of services. QUESTION OF HARDSHIP. While bound by the terms of the Act and the regulations, the committee would endeavour to ascertain what was of the greatest benefit to the community * and to the individual proprietors. Hardship might be caused by the de-, cisions of the committee, but it was bound to conform to the Act. and its decisions would be subject in every case to a certificate of fitness being, granted. In cases of hardship the committee had no power to waive regulations, but it would always be prepared to forward the representations of applicants to the Government and as the regulations were more or less on trial it was possible that as the result of representations amendments to the Act might be considered. ' In the case of all passenger services licenses would have to be obtained as from. March 1 with two exceptions: (a) Services carrying school’ children or teachers and no other passengers; (b) f services carrying a private party on contract as long as the proprietor did not advertise his intention to run. The onus was on the applicant to show that he had the right, to -a. license. If he could not- establish ■ that right the onus was on him to show that the service was necessary and desirable. . When a license was granted cars would have to adhere to the timetables as proprietors had obligations to the travelling public, Mr. Thomson concluded. - The application of Mr. C. Coltart (Opunake) to run a passenger service between Stratford and Opunake . was granted provided a schedule of intermediate passenger fares and goods and parcels charges was supplied.' Mr. C. E. Betts (Kaponga) was given permission to run between Eltham and Kapongh on the same conditions. '. HAWERA-NEW PLYMOUTH RUN. Mr. C. Fincham (Hawera) applied for a license to run between Hawera and New Plymouth. Counsel said the applicant had been running a-service for nine years and had not been involved in any accident. The. chairman asked if the service run by the 8-seater car could be speedeG.» • * Counsel replied that the speed at which the car ran had been found to be the safest in the interests of the public, but it could be speeded, if necessary. The chairman said he recognised that the public safety should be conserved but at the same time a faster service would be more in the interests of the public. ~ x Decision on the application was deferred until the others concerning the same route had been heard. ■ Mr. A. Blackmore (Hawera) applied to epntinue between Hawera and New Plymouth the service he commenced in September last. It appeared, said the chairman, that the applicant could not have a license under section 28 of the Act and it devolved upon the applicant to show that under section 26 the service was of use to the public. Mr. P' .ckmore said he had worked up a ciood business that was well patronised. The application was opposed by the Railway Department on the grounds that the service was unnecessary in view of the other road and the rail services, and by Mr. W. B. Sutton because he alleged Mr. Blackmore • ran on his time-table. . \ - Mr. Sutton applied for 1 a licence to run between Stratford and. New Plymouth. The applications of Messrs. Fincham and Sutton were granted subject to the schedule of goods charges and intermediate passenger fares being supplied, while that of Mr. Blackmore was refused, the authority considering that sufficient service was already given by the established services and the railways. : SOUTH AND WEST DISTRICT. Mr. J. S. B. Smith (Opunake) was granted a license to run. between Eltham and Opunake via Kaponga. Mr. L. A. B. Plant (Kaponga) was granted a license to run between Kaponga and’ Hawera via • Okaiawa and Normanby. Mr. G. H. Hooper (Opunake) was similar), treated in respect of a service between Hawera and Opunake, via Pihama, Manaia, Okaiawa and Normanby. The secretary of the company appeared in support of the application by Egmont Tourist Motors to run between Hawera and Opunake via Tokaora, Manaia, Kaupokonui and Pihama. He stated that the company had run services for 14 years without an accident. The application was granted. . ’ Counsel for Mr. Fincham asked what

hardship was to be apprehended by the of the certificate of fitness. ° The committee had no power regarding the requisitions of the inspector, ' but as he had said before, the chairman remarked, the committee would forward recommendations. Apparently the Minister had power to waive compliance. In reply ,to a query the chairman said a license-holder could put an additional licensed vehicle on his run to cope with extra passengers.