TOURIST SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 15

TOURIST SERVICES

LICENSED VEHICLES

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN

(By Telegraph—l»ress Association.)

AUCKLAND, December 7

An application for the licensing of additional vehicles for tourist services was withdrawn by the Railway Department at a special sitting of the No. 2 Licensing Authority, Mr. P. Skoglund, in conjunction with the No. 1 Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan, in Auckland today. The Department sought a renewal of its existing tourist licence without amendment.

Considerable interest was taken in the meeting, which was attended by a large number of operators and others associated with tourist services.

Mr Skoglund said the meeting nad been called to consider an application by the Railway Department to the No 2 Authority for renewal of certain licences which the Department had and a request for eight more vehicles The application had been before him for some time, but as tourist traffic extended over the North Island he had, before giving a decision, consulted with the No. 1 Authority. As a result it had been decided to adjourn the application to Auckland.

Mr. J. Walker, who appeared for the Railway Department, said it desired to withdraw its application for eight additional vehicles and made formal application 'for renewal of the licence without any amendment whatever. For the sake of convenience it wished to have its four licences consolidated into one.

Regarding the eight extra vehicles originally asked for. Mr Walker said the Department had eight vehicles stationed in the South Island. It was originally proposed to have them included in the tourist licence, it being expected that they might be required during the coming tourist season. There had been considerable opposition from licensed operators, however, and as the traffic so far had not been up to expectations the Department thought that in the meantime those vehicles already licensed would suffice.

Mr. J. ,W. Clarke, manager of the Government Tourist Bureau, Auckland, denied that he had been instructed to give preference to the Railway Department's road services. Work was distributed among licence holders, an important factor being the type of car and the suitability of the driver.

Mr. Phelan was assured by operators that they were satisfied that no preference had been given to the Railway Department by the Transport Department's vehicle inspectors or enforcement officers.

Mr. Sinclair submitted that £30,000 to £50.000 of capital was invested in cars for use on 12 days of the year. He suggested that the number of cars for regular tourist work should be curtailed and local taxis used as a reserve. Mr. Skoglund said a decision would be given within the next few days.