TRANSPORT BILL

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19893, 23 May 1936, Page 9

TRANSPORT BILL

l COMMITTEE STAGES. l MACHINERY CLAUSES. AMENDMENTS APPROVED. WELLINGTON, Saturday Several amendments, moved by :he Opposition when the Transport Licensing Amendment Bill was in the committee stages in the llousc ot' Representatives yesterday afternoon, were accepted by the Minister, the lion. R. :‘emple, and incorporated in the meas—ure. \‘Vhen discussion was proceeding on clause three, which provides for the appointment or district licensing auth—orities consisting of only one member and lays down the procedure to be tollowed in recording decisions, Mr W. J. Broadt'oot (Opposition—\Vaitomo) moved an amendment that all licens—ing authorities should record reasons for their decisions. This was accepted by the Minister and carried. Mr J. Hargest (Opposition—Awarua) moved an amendment that the re—cords ot' licensing authorities with re—gard to decisions should be open for inspection by interested parties on the payment of a prescribed tee. “ No Star Chamber." “1 do not see any great objection to that." said Mr Sompie. “\Ve shall have nothing to hide and there is go—ing to be no question of star chamber methods. it' the amendment is allowed to stand down i shall have a new subciausc drafted and included in the Bill at a. later date to give effect to the wishes of the Opposition." rl‘he Minister‘s suggestion was agreed to. Previously Mr \V. J. Poison (Opposition—stratford) had moved an amendment, that the number of per—sons constituting a district licensing authority should not be reduced until «It applications i‘or' renewals of licenses lin ihe present calendar year had been decided. The Opposition called for a division on the amendment. which was defeated by 1:9 votes to if). The Minister agreed to consider ion amendment to clause 9 of the Bill, Tinoved by the itt. lion. J. ti. antes t(LJl_iposition——l\'aipai'.ti. with the ob~ iiect at ensuring that tellublc uni certi‘tled evidence should be placed before ‘thc Minister when appeals vvere being innule. Mr (Joules said that when the ‘Minister cznnc to make decisions on ap- . Ipenis he should not use evidence from ‘ ithe district authorities that was not. ‘ccrtitled to be accurate. 1 1 Abolition of Board. 1 i There was no discussion on clause‘ i to, which abolishes the Transport 00- ‘ iordination Board, but members of the Opposition called for a division. The} ‘clausc was carried by 50 votes to 15m ‘ An amendment to clause 12. moved by Mr \V. P. EndEan (Opposition—— Parnell). with the object of providing for an appeal authority of three per-{ sans. was lost by 50 votes to 15. A further amendment was moved by Mr Poison to constitute the whole or the district licensing authorities an authority to decide appeals against the decisions of any one of them. This was lost on the voices.

The Bill was reported back to the House with amendments. the adjoum‘ ment for the week-end recess being tuliuu at 3.315 p.m. 7