TEMPORARY ROAD LICENSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19862, 27 July 1934, Page 6

TEMPORARY ROAD LICENSES

INTERPRETATION OF ACT SITTING OF TRANSPORT AUTHORITY The interpretation of the Transport Act, insofar as it effects the granting of temporary licenses to carriers wishing to enter an area other than that specified in the license issued to them by the Transport Licensing Authority, was the subject of a debate at yesterday’s sitting of No. 8 District Authority. The question was introduced by Mr D. E. Neave, representing Kurow Motors, when the application of a Timaru operator, G. G. Cross, was under consideration. Mr Neave stated that Cross held a license to operate in the Levels County and south as far as the Otaio river, but he also held a special seasonal license which empowered him to cart wool to Timaru from growers 44 miles beyond Kurow, where Cross operated. He actually carried the wool a distance of 115 miles for 10 - and even 8/a bale, whereas Kurow Motors charged 6/- a bale to carry the same wool a third of the distance. Mr G. S. Cray: What is the railage from Kurow to Timaru? Mr Neave: Last year it was 5/6 a bale. Mr Cray: :That means it costs 11/6 to bring it to Timaru. Mr Neave: Yes, and Cross does it for 10/- a bale. Mr Neave said that he had contested the case in Dunedin before No. 9 Authority, when Cross had applied to have that part of the district included in his area and the Authority had refused the application. Cross had overcome that by applying to the Postmaster at Timaru for a temporary license, which had been granted. “ Making a Hash ” of the Act. If that sort of thing were allowed to go on the Act would soon be “made a hash of.” He submitted that uhe Act was not being interpreted correctly. A temporary license should be issued to allow an operator to take goods into an area other than that for which he held a license, but not out of it. The Act described a temporary license as one operative for 14 days to be used for special occasions and he submitted that the cartage of wool on a seasonal license could not come under that heading. Mr H. A. Knight (Wellington), who represented Cross, said that at the session in Dunedin his client had established that he had carried wool for e customer at the head of the Ahuri.ri river for six years, and the Authoriiv there evidently considered that he had some right to operate in that area for, while refusing him an extension of his area, it had permitted him to take out a temporary license. Mr E. S. Brittenden, of the District Traffic Department of New Zealand Railways, expressed the opinion that postmasters should make fuller inquiries before granting temporary licenses. At present they appeared to issue them “ad. lib.” The chairman of the Authority (Mr J. D. Hutchison), said that while he appreciated the view's put forward by Mr Neave, the Authority could not do anything in the matter at the moment. Perhaps, when the Authority extended its operations, as it would no doubt when it was better established, the question would be cleared up. The Authority would make a note of the point in the meantime, however. Reserved Decisions Given. At yesterday’s session the Authority gave reserved decisions in cases heard the previous day. E. Dobson (Temuka) was granted a renewal of his existing license with a route license to Timaru three days week, with dairy produce to Smithfield and skins to Timaru and with backloading for the Clandeboye Dairy Factory and residents of Clandeboye. A clause also was inserted to enab'e the applicant to carry bobby calves to Smithfield if the industry is continued N. Sherratt (Geraldine) was granted a renewal of his existing license to operate in Geraldine County, his application for a seasonal license to carry w r ool to Christchurch being declined. A. Smith (R,aukapuka> was granted an area license for Geraldine county, north of the railway, and within a radius of seven miles of the Bridge in Ashburton county, a route license to Mt. Somers for coal only, s ud

a seasonal route license to carry wool from Geraldine to Timaru. L. H. Cross (Temuka) was granted a license to operate in Geraldine County, with an extension to Peel Forest for the cartage of firew r ood. Existing licenses were renewed as follows: W. O. Smith (Orari), G. R. Blatch (Timaru), J. C. Jack (Albury), H. Gould and Co., Ltd. (Timaru), G. G. Nutsford (Timaru). G. G. Cross (Timaru), with an extension to Opihi to cart timber for the Timaru Harbour Board only. A. J. Clarke (Timaru), W Davison (Timaru), R. Oliphant (Timaru), Sim and Sheed (Timaru), E G. Tregenza (Timaru), D. Kellahan (Washdyke), G. W. IT. Paul (Washdyke > , N.Z. Express Company (Timaru) seasonal. Mount Cook Tourist Company (Timaru), A. J. Wheeler (TiMaru >. N.Z. Express Company With an additional vehicle authority, Cecil Wood Co., Ltd. (Timaru).