HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1930, Page 5

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

PAYMENT BY RAILV/AYS ON BUSES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. Legislation is to be introduced by the Government this session to provide for the payment of heavy traffic fees bv the Railway Department on buses operated by it. This assurance was contained in the annual report of the controller, and Auditor-General presented to Parliament to-day. “In my annual report for the year ended March 31st. 1929 it was stated that vouchers submitted by the Railway Department suporting the payment of fees for heavy traffic licenses issued in connection with its omnibus services were queried as it appeared to the audit office that the Crown was not legally liable for fees of this description.” the report stated. “On the representation of the Railway Department that the Railway Board had decided as a matter of policy to pay the same tees in .respect of the Department’s omnibus services as would be payable by an individual engaged in a similar enterprise, the Audit Office a creed to pass the vouchers conditionally on the expenditure being charged to unauthorised and an undertaking beino- given that validating legislation would he obtained in due course. Provision was.made next session for the necessary validation by a clause in theTransnort- Department Bill, but owing to the elimination of the clause dealing with the matter along with other clauses in the same Bill the necessary legislation was not passed. An assurance has been given by the Prime MinI ister that the necessary legislation will be introduced this session.”