TIRED OF FIGHTING LOSING BATTLE

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1946, Page 8

TIRED OF FIGHTING LOSING BATTLE

The statement that he was tired of flghting a losing battle on behalf of gx-servicemen applicants for transport licenses if the Minister or the Director of Rehabilitafion did not care to make greater efforts on their behalf, was made by the No.. 4 Licensing Authority (Mr. V. Raines) at a sitting of the Authority in Dunedin. Mr. Raines suggested that there was a case for greater co-operation between the Department and the transport industry in Dunedin. The question arose out of the evidence, when Mr. Raines referred to the recent statement of the Transport Licensing Appeal Authority (Sir Francis Frazer) that licensing autliorities too frequently accepted a conglomeration of statements as evidence and that more definite .eyidence was necessary before applications could be granted. Mr. Raines said he agreed witli that in general, but if authorities were too strict nine out of ten applications would have to be refused. Returned servicemen would be placed at a distinct disadvantage, as it was difficult for a person applying for a new lieense to gather the information necessary to prove that his entry into the industry was "necessary or desirable" in terms of the Act, wliile established firms applying for licenses for extra vehieles had all the figures of tlieir businesses to draw upon for evidence. "This qu.estion should have been taken up months ago by the Minister of Rehabilitafion or the Director of Rehabilitafion," Mr. Raines said. "I have suggested that no established firms should get extra vehieles until all ex-servicemen applicants have been absorbed into industry, but if ffie rehabilitafion authorities are not going to do anything about it I am tired of fighting a losing battle on behalf of £x-servicemea. "-