APPEAL COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1932, Page 6

APPEAL COURT

MOTOR VAN LICENSES

(Per Press 'Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, June 30

The Appeal Court to-day commenced the hearing of an appeal against the judgment of Mr Justice Reid, delivered at Auckland in March, wherein he dismissed a proceeding brought by Frank Savory, a carrier of Mount Eden, for a declaration declaring void a-by-law of the Auckland City Council relating to license fees, payable for motor vans. The appellant, in an affidavit, stated that his total annual liability for registration and license fees in respect of his one van amounted to £42, £2 of which was payable to the Auckland City Council for a van license. His van had never been inspected or surveyed by officials of the Council,. and, apart from details set out in the application for a drivers’ license, might, so far as the Council was concerned, lie non-existent. He claimed that the £2 license fee was unreasonable and excessive.

v The Council, in reply, stated that a sum in excess of £I2OO was required each year to maintain the services of the Traffic Department. There was £BOO received as revenue from the issue of licenses leaving the balance to be found from the general funds. The Council revenue received from van licenses was not sufficient to pay for the services of the traffic officers. Therefore the license fee of £2 could ,not be excessive or unreasonable.

.< Mr Justice Reid had upheld the contention advanced by the 'Council, r The ease Avas not finished when the Churi adjourned.