PROTEST AT M.P.'S ACTION
MASTERTON, August 5. "Some time ' ago there was a big noise in Parliament about supposed in1ferferen.ce with the chairman of a land saies committee, yet here we have what ' I cali attempted interference with the chairman of a licensing authority, " said Mr. ,P. Skoglund, No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority, at a sitting in Masterton tliis afternoon. Mr. Skoglund entered- a strong protest against the action of the member for the district, Mr. G. H. Mackley, in writing to the Minister of Transport regarding an application by A. M. lnnes for a taxi driver's lieence. Mr. Skoglund said that even if there were some excuse for lnnes there was none for an M.P., who should have told lnnes that the issue of licences was a niatter for the Transport Licensing Authority. ' ' If you want an M.P. to help your case, bring him to Court to give evidence," said Mr. Skoglund. He added that he had said' on a previous occasion that the place for assistanee was in the open Court. If there were any suggestion of interference by M.P.'s he would refuse to hear the case. Had the authority not already heard subinissions for lnnes some time ago he would have refused to hear the case. Mr. Skoglund said he had written to the Minister of Transport entering a strong objection to the letter from an M.P. In the course of a reply, Mr. Mackley said this afternoon that there was nothing improper in liis action. "There was no attempt, " he said, "to use political inliuonce in any sliape or form. 1 was weil within my rights in conimunicating with the Minister of Transport, who apparently agreed with that point of view, as the text of his reply to me would indieate. ' ' As far as the Licensing Authority is concerned, he should appreciate that he, like mvself, is a servant of the public, although acting in a judiciai capacity, and if I have any matters referred to me wliich I think should be referred to a Minister of the Crown I use my discretion in so referring them. ' '
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Bibliographic details
Chronicle (Levin), 7 August 1947, Page 6
Word Count
351PROTEST AT M.P.'S ACTION Chronicle (Levin), 7 August 1947, Page 6
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