TRANSPORT ACT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 105, 24 December 1931, Page 5

TRANSPORT ACT

| , operates march 1 : SCuPE OF NEW MEASURE OUTLINED BY MR. CLINKARD SPECIAL DISTRICTS PROPOSED Jdr. C. H. Clinkard, M.P., yesterday reeeived advice that the Transpox't Act will come into operation on Mai'ch 1, and that a gazette to that effect is being issued. The Act is one of very considerable importance to the Dominion, and to Rotorua, with its numerous ' road transport services, in particular. In an interview with the "Post" after the receipt of "the wire, Mr. Clinkard emphasised this fact, and briefly outlined the main features of the Act. The Act was designed to make better and more complete provision for transport services, stated Mr. Clinkard. The principle which it embodied was first introdueed by the then Minister of Transport, the Hon W. A. Veitch, and the present Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Hunter, about two years ago, but owing to opposition from the cities, the Bill was dropped. _Since ^ th^.n, however, the same principle had been adopted in Great Britain, and the present Bill, which successfully passed the House, had been brought forward. Divided Into Districts The four cities which at present had^ their own system of transport control, would for a time at least, be exempted from the operations of the Act. For the purposes of the administration of the Act, New Zealand would he divided into a number of districts, which although they were not defined in the Act, would probably be very much on the lines of the present highway districts. Three representatives would be appointed for each district and on these representatives would fall the duty of licensing all services engaged in public transport within the bounds of the district. In addition, however, a central board would bfe set up which would deal with all services operating in two or more districts — as, for instance, the run between Rotorua and Auckland. Obtaining Licenses Under the Act, passenger services could only be operated provided that permission was granted and a lieense issued. Where any service had been in operation for a period commencing prior to March 31, 1931 it would be. automatically entitled to a lieense valid for one year only, but all services which had commenced operations later slian March 31 would be required to make application and obtain a lieense immediately the Act comes into force. The licensing authority had the power to grant or refuse licenses, fix Ihe route over which the services were to ply, determine and approve timeables, and any other relevant details, while it would be able, in certain circumstances. to revoke licenses already issued. So far as goods transport was concerned, Goods Control areas would probably be gazetted, to which the same provisions would would apply in !;he case of the passenger services.