H.—4oa.

1936. NEW ZEALAND

TRANSPORT CO-ORDINATION BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 11 (b) of the Transport Law Amendment Act, 1933.

The Honourable R. Semple, Minister of Transport, Wellington. g lßi — Wellington, 31st March, 1936. We submit our annual report, in accordance with the duty imposed on us by section 11 of the Transport Law Amendment Act, 1933. INTRODUCTORY. 1. The year 1935-36 has been the second year of operation of the Transport Co-ordination Board. 2. The Board has not performed its functions completely for the full year, owing to changes in the policy of the Government following the general election last year. In a letter dated 30th January, 1936, addressed to the Chairman of the Board, the Hon. the Minister of Transport requested that the Board should defer the consideration of any more appeals from the decisions of Licensing Authorities, and asked the Board to co-operate with him pending a decision as to future transport policy. 3. Later, the Hon. the Minister of Transport informed the Board that he desired a similar postponement of air-service applications —which come to the Board direct and not on appeal. 4. The Board wished to co-operate with the Government, as requested, in every possible way, and indeed believes it is its duty to do so, and consequently since the beginning of February, 1936, the Board has held only one public sitting, and has dealt with no appeals or original applications since that time. 5. By a subsequent letter dated 3rd March, 1936, the Hon. the Minister of Transport suggested that members of the Board should resign, as changes would be made in transport legislation. With great deference to the wishes of the Minister, and with every desire to co-operate with the Government, the members of the Board felt that they should make their annual report at any rate before taking action as suggested, and to this the Hon. the Minister of Transport agreed. 6. There is a statutory duty placed on the Board, by section 11 of the Transport Law Amendment Act, 1933, to submit an annual report to Parliament on the work done by the Board for the year ending 31st March, and in compliance with that section, the Board submits this report, I—H. 40A,