“THIS IS MURDER.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20509, 10 January 1935, Page 9

“THIS IS MURDER.”

Abolishing Goods Services by Road. A COMPLETE SURPRISE. “This is murder,” stated the lion W. Hayward, M.L.C., manager of Rink Taxis commenting to-day on the decision 1 of the No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority in abolishing numbers of through goods services by road between Auckland and southern, districts. “ Twentynine applications and only three granted outright,” he repeated in amazement. “It is wholesale slaughter.” “No one ever expected anything like this,” added Mr Haj r ward. “ The opposite view has been taken in Christchurch by the licensing authority. I don’t think this wholesale refusal of the licenses will be tolerated for a minute. I can’t imagine that the decisions will go unchallenged. There is sure to be general opposition. “It is most unjust. The position is that a man owning a couple of lorries in which all his capital is invested suddenly finds that his means of livelihood is wiped out without warning. It gives rise to the point that the owners of the present services will continue with their present plant They would not dare to buy new equipment for fear of losing their licenses at any moment. The situation is becoming worse and worse. “ I am sure that when the matter comes before the Transport Co-ordina-tion Board a vastly different attitude will be taken. That board has been most reasonable in its dealings. There is no doubt that the owners of the services will be prompt in lodging their appeals. Prohibitive Fees. “ Regarding the maintenance of roads mentioned by the chairman of the No. 2 Authority, it might be mentioned that the heavy traffic fees are simply prohibitive. The motor services are .paying more than their share already and there has been a general move to have them reduced.” The prediction was made by Mr Leicester Harris, manager of Newman Bros., that the Appeal Board would quash the decisions of the Authority. ‘‘ln quite a few’ cases the decisions of the Authority have been reversed and for that matter I don’t think the members have a grip of the meaning of the Transport Act. Again i I don’t think that public opinion w’ould allow the decisions to stand. It appears so ridiculous. The Auckland Authority has been the most drastic of the lot.” (The Decision Referred to Appears on Page 7).