Complex Task To Get Licence Fees Refund

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 19

Complex Task To Get Licence Fees Refund

Counties and boroughs which have their traffic controlled by the Transport Department will get refunds of the proportions of drivers’ licence fees paid to the department for the period after November 1, the date on which the department’s service became free to local bodies.

Up to October 31, a proportion of every licence fee went to the department to help pay for its service. The only local body in Canterbury not affected is the Christchurch City Council, which has its own inspectors. The Buller County Council employs one inspector on its own account, and also uses the department’s service.

While the local bodies regard the refund as a good thing, involving collectively refunds of several thousand pounds, they also see it as a mixed blessing, because the department wants returns showing the amounts paid since April 1, 1965. The complicating factor is that many motorists have taken out licences for more than one year to a maximum of five years ahead, and proportions have to be determined for refunds up to the 1969 licensing year.

In a circular to local bodies, the department explains that the introduction of the free service by the department has put an entirely new complexion on the matter if councils have paid their licence proportions on a cash basis. The department says it will

retain seven-twelfths (for the period April 1 to October 31) of the money paid by councils this year, and refund fivetwelfths (from November 1 to March 31) to cover the period since the operation of the 'free service. In addition, the department will refund amounts paid by councils on licences issued for the 1966-67 licensing year and beyond. Returns are wanted to settle the amounts involved.