NOT A REPLY TO QUESTIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 124, 11 June 1937, Page 6

NOT A REPLY TO QUESTIONS

Minister's Answer to Licence Fee Representations REC0NSIDERATI0N ASKED "This is really not a replv to our questions," said tlie Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, at the meeting of tlie Hastings Borough Council last evening when a reply was received from the Minister oi JTransport regarding' the council 's ropiesentations' c'onccrniiig the proposed alleration in the issu.lnce of motor d rivers' licenses. Tlie Minister stated that apparently there was some misapprehension concerning the finaneial aspect of the proposals relating to tlie drivers/ license fees. "Although it is intended t.hat 60 per cent will be payable to the Cousolidaled Fund, ' this proportion has been worked out as roprescnting Ihe amount at prcsent received by the rural authorities, inclusive Of borouglis having a population of Jess tlian QOOO," he said. "So l'ar as the borouglis with over 6000 population are coneerned, the revenue they will receive from tlie allocation; will be approximately the same as tlioy receive from license fees under tho present system." As the representations containcd in the council 's letter and report were to a cOnsidcrable extcnt hascd on the question of thc revenue reecivable by tlie council, lie suggested' tbafi tlie council rcconshler thc various niatters in tho light of thc foregoing information. "I would point out that thc wholo of the proposals havo a eominon objecf, mainly, the improvement of tlie present unsatisfac.tory eondition in the control of traffic, and this applies particularly to the case of drivers' licenses and raffic control," he added. "I hope that the council will view he proposals from this aspect, and on consideration of the foregoing give its support to this portion of the campaign for reduetion in thc toll of the road." "This information liardly conforins with thc figures and facts piaced bei'orc

as reCentiy, " said Cr. *G. W. McCormick. • On the suggestio^ of tho Mayor, it was decidqd to rofr he matter to the Tratfic Conii "itlcc lu, »-i»nsideration and a roport.