TRANSPORT LICENSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20114, 7 December 1939, Page 4

TRANSPORT LICENSES

AUTHORITY IN GISBORNE YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS WAIROA SITTING TO-DAY A sitting of the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, presided over by Mr. E. J. Phelan, was field in Gisborne yesterday, a feature of the list of business being the application for licenses on the part of taxi proprietors and town carriers, hitherto exempt from the obligation of application. The list was a lengthy one, and involved appearances on the part of Messrs. J. S. Wauchop, D. E. Chrisp, K* A. Woodward, G. J. Jeune, u. C. Parker' and A. A. Whitehead, Gisborne, and Mr. J. Todd, Tokomaru Bay, on behalf of various applicants. Mr. J. W. Fergie represented the Railways Department.

In respect of the licensing of town taxi businesses, it was disclosed that amalgamation of the whole of the taxi proprietors was not in immediate prospect, though an eventual coming together of the various interests was still hoped for. The authority dealt with the matter of fares, and indicated that the existing schedule under which the taxi proprietors had operated up to the present was not satisfactory. The operators were directed to confer on the possibility of a schedule based on a charge from “flag-fall,” with additions for extra distance, and to submit a tariff to the authority later. Town Carriers’ Radius On behalf of the town carriers, a statement was submitted in support of a proposal to extend the radius of operation from six miles to 15 miles, as an alternative to preventing area license-holders delivering in the town. The authority indicated, however, that no intention was held of extending the radius of operation by town carriers. When dealing with license applications on behalf of country taxi proprietors, the authority expressed objection to contract runs for side roads, and suggested that an alternative tariff should be submitted in writing. It was also directed that operators in such places as Tokomaru Bay, where taxi business is limited almost entirely to a given route, should consider applying for passenger-ser-vice licenses rather than for taxi licenses.

All applications regarding which opposition was voiced were reserved by the authority, which concluded the Gisborne list during the afternoon. A sitting in Wairoa was fixed for to-day, with a shorter list than that submitted in Gisborne.