WANGANUI TRANSPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS ARE ADJOURNED

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 November 1950, Page 8

WANGANUI TRANSPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS ARE ADJOURNED

Applications for contract licences which came before the No. 6 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr T. T. Murray) at a sitting in Wanganui yesterday were held over in the meantime. The Authority adopted the view that nothing should be done till the Minister of Transport (Mr Goostpani announced a decision regarding contract licences, following consideration of a report from a special tribunal set up to investigate the various questions involved. Before the A ithority were applicaI lions from Martin and Vernon, Ltd., for extensions of contract and race licences to permit the use of any ve hide of the licensee’s fleet holding a current certificate of fitness. J. Dunlop sought permission to use a third vehicle for contract parties, and M. M. O'Connor applied for a licence to carry contract parties from Wangan ji within a radius of 150 miles of the Chief Post Office. Mr K. J. Thomas, for the Railways Department, said that a special committee had been set up to investigate the question of contract licences. Since the appointment of this tribunal all new opplications were being adjourned pending the committee’s decision. “I understand that the committee presented its report to the Minister* cn Monday,” Mr Thomas added. “Because so many applications are pending it is anticipated that the Minister will give an early decision.” VIEW SUPPORTED. Mr R. S. Withers, for Greyhound Buses, Ltd., agreed with Mr Thomas that these applications should be adjourned in the meantime. He appeared before the committee in Wellington and it took extensive evidence. Mr R. G. Palmer, for Martin and Vernon, Ltd., submitted that on August 15, when there was a sitting, in Wanganui of the previous Authority, Greyhound Buses made application for contract licences, which were granted. It did appear at the time that Martin and Vernon were operating in excess of their licences, and the present application had been made to I rectify the position. I Mr Thomas agreed that this was so. : Martin and Vernon had been operati ing in this way for years and thorugt : that they were entitled to do so under (their licences. The present application by the company was merely to rectify an anomaly. Mr Thomas suggested that the question be considered of allowing the firm to carry on in the meantime till these anplications for contract licences were dealt with. The Authority: Would there be any harm in allowing Martin and Vernon to carry on in the meantime? Mr Palmer: The matter should be cleared up. They arc entitled to have It put straight. It d ies seem logical that if one Author:! was willing to hear an application from Greyhound

Buses, this application should be heard also.

TEMPORARY LICENCES.

Mr E. M. Arnold (WeU # ’.gton), representing the Transport Department, suggested that without prejudice Martin and Vernon should be allowed extensions by way of temporary licences till the next sitting of t.ie Authority in Wanganui. Mr Palmer: We should not be asked to carry on with temporary licences when Greyhound Buses havje been given permanent licences. Mr Withers said that Greyhound Buses and Martin and Vernon were in the same position as far as the number of licences was c ncerned. If art extension were granted immediately for Martin and Vernon, and the same were not done for Greynound Buses, the position would not be equitable because Martin and Vernon would be in a much more favourable position. “I appear for two other applicants and they feel that if any other licences are to be handed out they should be heard,” said Mr J. S. D. Tizard. “It would seem futile to issue any licences before the decision of the committee which sat in Wellington is known." The Authority adjourned the hearing of the applications and said that in the meantime Martin and Vernon could carry on with temporary licences.