LICENSES GRANTED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 205, 22 April 1932, Page 6

LICENSES GRANTED

APPLICATIONS HEARD PROCEEDINGS OF NO. 3 DISTRICT TRANSPORT LICENSING AUTHORITY YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS Fuither Rotorua and district applications were dealt with yesterday by No. 3 district Transport Licensing Authority, which is at present sitting in Rotorua. A number of applicants satisfied the authority of their claims to be admitted under Section 28 of the Act, which grants a 12 months' license from April 1. It was decided, when the adjournecl matter of the K Motor Company's application for a continuous license in respect of its Rotorua-Hamilton run was resumed, that the application be dealt with under Section 28. Mr. H. Gillies, for the Railway Department, opposed an application by Lees Motors for a continuous license in respect of a RoVrua-Hamilton service on the grounds that two separate applications should have been made by R. F. Lee and M. Young, the two parties operating under the name of Lees Motors. Mr. Gillies obtained an admission in evidence that neither the profits nor losses as between Lee and Young were shared, and that they had no deed of partnership between them. Mr. R. A. Potter, for the applicant, submitted that the arrangement outlined between the two parties was quite in order and called evidence from the traffic inspector to show that the service had been operating continuously since August, 1931. The Authority pointed out, how-. ever, that separate licenses were held by Young and Lees; if the application was made as a partnership, the licenses should be held as such. The Authority was not satisfied that the application could be dealt with under Section 28, and would deal with the matter under Section 26. Bus Company Applications The next matter on the list was an application by the Rotorua Bus Comnany for a continuous license in resnect of its Whakarewarewa service. No objections were lodged. Mr. J. D. Davys, who appeared for the applicants, stated that this was the most important of the applications made by his clients. This service embraced the main tourist traffic to the thermal sights and also eovered a large proportion of the suburban traffic. The company had Heen continuously in operation since 1926, when it had been formed by amalgamating the interests of a number of individual owners who, until that time, had been competing for the traffic. Sidney Smith, secretary of the mmpany, produced the necessary licenses and stated that the service had been operating for the period "eouired to bring it under Section 28." Mr. Davys was proceeding to lerd evidence in i*egard to fares and the influence of competition when the chairman intimated that all that would be necessary at this junctu- e was to prove the application under Section 28. Mr. Davys pointed out, "jjowever, that this evidence was relevant on '.he subject of fares, and the pomt was allowed. It was pointed out that iwing to the influence of outside •'omp^tition, three scales of fares had been in operation. At one stage fares had been forced so low that buses had been running at a loss. At th:s stage, the Authority intimated that ■*t would not pursue the matter furher. but would hear the evidence of he traffic inspector regarding the -.ervice. The inspector stated that uha service had been satisfactoiy in . avery way; he had had no complaints , ■>-egarding fares, butj had recently heard comment that they had been raised'. The chairman stated that the Au'..hority was sat;sfied that the applicau,ion came under Section 28. It was nrenared to approve the timetable and the schedule of fares submitted Sight-Seeing Runs The same company also made application for a continuous license in respect of its Rotorua-Ngongotaha Mountain sight-seeing service. Evidence was given by Sidney Smith Lhat the service had been operated "inee April 1. 1931, and prior to hat. from 1926. Licmses were produced in respect to the vehicles used P. A. Kusabs, in evidence, statod that to his knowledge, the applicant mmpany had continuously operated the service since April 1, weather conditions permitt'ng, and when sufficient rassengers were offering. ' The chairman stated that the Authority was satisfied that the application could be automatically grar.ted under Section 28. He pointed ort, however, that the maximum load on ihe" road in question was 2 ton 10 cwt., and that load must not be exceeded. No p(,rticulars had beon given of the class of vehicle which it was proposed to use. Evidence was called to show that the applicant company had suitable vehicles available under the maximum weight prescribed. The application was granted on the conditions already applied to sight--eeing runs. and with the additional ■■ondit'on that the vehicles used ihould not exceed 2i ton maximum. The run may be cancelled when less than three passengers are offering. Owing to the fact that terminal licenses were not held from the Rotorua County Council, applications by 7. Mehrtens IMr. G. McDowell) in •esnect to a. Rotorua-Hamurana run, cnd by the Rotorua Bus Companv in ^espect to th° route, were held *o come outside Section 28 and under SecUon 26. No opposition was raised to an an~licat"*on by the K Motor Company, Ltd., for a continuous license in remect of the "Round Trip'' sight-sce-ng tour, by way of Waimungu and Ta'ro". The application was adrnittvl under Section 28 and the time'■ah1e and fares were a^proved. The wnd'tions attached to other sig7,t•lecing applications were again inioosed. Two applications by the Rotorua Bus Comnany (Mr. Davys) in respect of their Rotorua- Wairoa and RotoruaFairy Springs runs were admitted under Section 28, subject to the usual conditions. Application was made by the Rotorua Motor Transport Company (Mr. Roe) in respect to their Government "Round Trip" service. This applica-

tion was granted and fares and timetable approved. An application by the Bus Company for a license in respect of their round Lake Rotorua sightse jing trip, was granted subject to the usual conditions. bix jua.ues Trip No opposition was ra:sed to the K Motor Company's application for a continuous license in respect of its Six Lakes sights eeing trip. Necessary licenses were; produced. Mr. Hampson for the applicant company stated that this was one of the best known in the district and had been in operation for many years. It was suggested that a minimum or two passengers be fixcd for the trip. The application was granted, on the usual conditions, and a minimum of two passengers in the case of a car and three in the case of a bus, was fixed. A similar appTcation in respect to the same route was made by the R.M. Company , and granted. Applications by the Rotorua Bus Company and C. J. Francis (Mr. Ro V) for continuous licenses in respect of serviees from Rotorua to Okere Falls, were both classed under Section 26 as both applicants admitted that they had not obtained terminal licenses from the Rotorua County Counc'l. This concluded the applications brought under Section 28 and the board rose until this morning when it will hear representations regarding the issue of temporary licenseS and examine apphcat'ons under Section 26.