LICENSING OF TRANSPORT

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1934, Page 3

LICENSING OF TRANSPORT

MEETING OF NO. 5 AUTHORITY SITTING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. GOODS SERVICE APPLICATIONS. The No. 5 Transport Licensing Authority met at New Plymouth yesterday. Mr. P. Thomson presided and with him were associated Mrs. J. C. Rolleston and Major R. A. Wilson. The authority desired to hear further evidence, said Mr. Thomson, after hearing the application of Mr. H. J. Henderson, Te Kuiti, for additional licenses covering a motor vehicle and a trailer. The vehicles were desired to operate with a continuous license in toe area he was then working. It was proposed to adjourn toe hearing, said Mr. Thomson, and to take further evidence. at the first sitting of the authority at Te Kuiti. Evidence the authority desired relating to toe needs of the settlers between Te Kuiti and Awakino was not available and it wished to know whether additional carriers would be necessary. Opposition to the granting of the applications was made by Mr. L. M. Moss on behalf of Messrs. Warren and Treweek, New Plymouth and Mokau. Mr. Moss opposed the application also on instructions from Messrs. Clifton (Mokau), Cowper (Awakino), Bedenbeck (Te Kuiti), Rattenbuy (Mahoenui), D. G. Robinson (Pio Pio) and E. A. Robinson (Te Kuiti). ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS. Mr. Henderson said that since his original license had been granted he had received additional contracts. His one lorry was not sufficient for the work. It was necessary to run the lorry nearly z 4 hours daily, and to make conditions better for the drivers he desired an additional license for an extra vehicle. Mr. Henderson gave particulars relating to various contracts he had obtained. He did not do much carting south of Pio Pio. His license from the authority gave him an area wider than he had formerly been working. He wished to extend that area still further. When Mr. Henderson said that he had done nothing like 40 trips a year to Waikawau, Mr. Thomson stated that his evidence conflicted with what he had given when his license was originally granted. Mr. Henderson said that he did not wish to convey the impression that he had run 40 trips to Waikawau in the year prior to November, 1931, but that he expected to have that number of trips in the following year. On only one occasion had he carried outside his district, said Mr. Henderson. That was in December last, when he went to the Goodfellow estate. The trip had not been at night. At present when he worked at night he carted wool or timber mainly in the Aria riding. Last year he had worked a lorry for five months for 24 hours a day, using three drivers. Mr. Henderson said he had worked heavily in previous years though he admitted that toe amount had increased recently. Mr. Henderson admitted canvassing certain districts for business, though ndt recently. He did not go to the Waikawau valley canvassing, or to any other district outside the Aria riding.' When he had canvassed he had not quoted uneconomic rates. The work he had obtained at Waikawau was the result of a Mr. Tatham asking him to go to his place. OPPOSITION TO APPLICATION. Mr. Charles S. Warren, of the firm of Warren and Treweek, referring to Mr. Henderson’s carrying in the Waikawau district, considered that he was charging uneconomic rates for wool. Mr. Moss submitted that Mr. Henderson’s present license should be reviewed by the authority. If a datb could be fixed for a hearing at Te Kuiti the evidence that could be. brought would surprise the authority. Should toe. license at present applied for be granted it should be for an area extending no more than five miles south of Pio Pio. Gibson’s Motors, Ltd., was granted permission to withdraw an application for an additional license for the passenger and mail service between New Plymouth and Te Kuiti. Mr. A. A. Bennett, on behalf of Gibson’s Motors, said that toe service was a continuation of one previously run by Campbell’s Motors. Gibson’s had taken it over when the other firm had gone off the road prior to the expiry of the latter’s license. This was necessary in order that mail contracts might be complied with. An arrangement had been made and signed by all interested parties on toe New Plymouth-Te Kuiti route, with the approval of the Commissioner of Transport. The necessary arrangements were being made by the commissioner, and if the authority was in agreement would be carried into effect. It meant that the Campbell’s Motors service would be replaced by Gibson’s Motors, which would carry on the mail services. Mr. L. A. Chatterton, Waitara, was granted permission to withdraw an application for a continuous area license for the carriage of goods. The matter of a refund of £2 fees paid was referred to the Commissioner of Transport. The authority also permitted the transfer of a seasonal area license from Mr. Chatterton to Mr. R. L. Curd, the license to expire on April 30. An application from Mr. N. S. Mason, Inglewood, for a license for a new vehicle, which was replacing an older model, was granted. Norris and Son, Eltham, had their defined route license amended so that they could carry goods between Eltham and Moeroa on days other than the three mail days permitted at present.

EAST TARANAKI TRAFFIC. Shewry Bros., Tahora, was granted an area and defined route license for goods transport by one vehicle in the Whangamomona and Ohura counties to expire on May 31, 1934. The area the firm worked was no more than 12 miles in extent, said Mr. A. R. Shewry. The firm had run a continuous service in the Ohura and Whangamdmona counties since 1930 and had operated a light truck before that. The goods carted included wool, timber and coal. There was practically no opposition in the district except for the cartage of a small quantity of wool and household goods. Mr L. M. Moss explained that the application was a late one on account of a misunderstanding on the part of the applicant. Shewry Bros, worked less than five miles on main highways on both the contracts and had thought that no license was required. On being told that a license was necessary the firm sent the forms and a cheque for payment of fees to the authority secretary, but the papers had gone astray. Payment on the cheque had been stopped as soon as it was known that it had been lost. Mr. Charles McManus, Te Kuiti, applied for a transfer of his continuous goods service license to E. J. Jarvis and Son. Mr. McManus’ chief reason for giving up the service was ill-health. The application was deferred until the'financial position of Jarvis and Son could be examined. An application from McAdam’s Motors, Te Kuiti, to replace an old vehicle with a new one on toe Manakopu-Te Kuiti passenger and mail service was granted. Mr. J. A. G. Higgins, Te Kuiti, applied for a continuous single vehicle goods ser-

vice license over a defined area. The application was granted, the service to be limited to the Waitomo county, excluding the Awakino riding, and to be- concerned with local body and public works material only.