SUBURBAN BUS SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 10

SUBURBAN BUS SERVICES.

The most contentious question of policy, the operation of bus services, has not yet been examined by the Transport Board. Lntil a decision has been reached it will not have evolved a complete policy, for it was the rivalry between trams and buses, and popular discontent with subsequent developments, that led to the establishment of the board. To a certain extent there will not be any great difficulty in defining the board's intentions. It has commenced by formulating a programme of tramway extensions; until these are constructed it is only reasonable that the board should itself maintain the temporary service by buses along tho routes to the proposed tramway termini. Reservations might, however, be made when the order of the extensions is decided, as tho list might extend over so many years that other arrangements would be desirable for transport in cases where, though tramways are eventually to be laid, dependence must be placed for a considerable period on tho alternative means. Beyond the tramway zone there will be a considerable system of bus services. They constitute the fundamental issue for the board's consideration. In its practical details the problem is 110 doubt highly complicated, much more so than is presumed by the variety of simple solutions that have been offered. But

the board should not encounter any serious embarrassment in laying down principles of policy. The best means of solving the difficulties is to appeal to private enterprise. The weight of opinion in the districts chieHy concerned appears to be convinced that private companies can serve their needs satisfactorily; the municipal administration certainly found that it could not operate such services profitably, and the new administration does not appear to entertain hopes of succeeding any better. Emphatic assurances have been given that private enterprise is ready to undertake these services ; it should be given the opportunity. The board is the proper authority to decide where bus services are necessary, and the dimensions of the services, but beyond such general oversight as was maintained by local authorities under the old system of deeds of delegation its policy should bo to allow private contractors to serve allotted areas as efficiently and as economically as the volume of traffic permits. Any attempt by the board to establish a monopoly of transport, extending far beyond its actual district, would certainly provoke public resentment, bhould piivate enterprise not respond to the invitation it will then be soon enough to consider whether there is any legal obligation on the board to serve the outer suburbs.