Transport Licence Extension Refused

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 19

Transport Licence Extension Refused

In a reserved decision given yesterday the No. 9 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr J. S. Haywood), refused an application by Webbs Transport, Ltd., Mount Somers, for extension of its licence for four vehicle authorities, including two for trailers, to cart superphosphates from Hornby to Mount Somers, together with an exemption from rail restrictions.

The Authority said the application amounted to backloading rights which would fit very nicely with the company’s contract for carting silica sand from Mount Somers to Hornby. He had been invited to accept that such a grant would be a real saving to taxpayers arising from advantages of road transport and a proposed store for superphosphates at Mount Somers, as opposed to alleged serious disadvantages of rail transport, said the Authority. “If the Railways Department is to be deprived of this kind of freight, carried at low rates in the interest of primary production, I would have to infer that the South Island railways system is no longer required by farmers or others and such a proposition is not within my jurisdiction,” said the Authority. “Indeed, I find upon evidence again and again that the railways remain desirable in the public interest.

“I have no doubt the farmers concerned with this application would find such a service convenient. I am sympathetic towards them, but a grant of this amendment application would create precedent, binding upon me to the extent of diverting superphosphate from rail to road in Mid-Canterbury.” Transfers Granted The Authority granted applications for transfer of three taxi-cab licenses. They were made by Kenneth Raymond Kane, of Nortons road, licence transferred from the estate of Andrew Lay: by Brian David Bowen, of Wainoni road, licence transferred from John Raymond Martyn: and by Graeme Robert Grieve, of Tilford street, licence transferred from Brian Watson Dingwall. The Authority allowed Pearl Margaret Smith, of Waikari, the transfer of a goods service licence from Alexander William Burnip, of Waikari; Desmond Bruce Thiele, of Roberts road, the transfer of a licence from the estate of Walter Charles Thiele; and John Joseph Mustchin, of Kaiapoi, the transfer of a licence from Russell Alan Williams, of Belfast, and a change of domicile from Christchurch to Kaiapoi. Governors Bay Transport, Ltd., was granted two additional vehicle authorities for the cartage of general goods, and A.K. Transport, Ltd., was granted one additional vehicle authority. The North Canterbury Ski Club was granted a goods service licence to carry the club’s own goods to and from the Broken river ski grounds with exemption from rail restriction.