ROAD TRANSPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 97, 5 February 1936, Page 8

ROAD TRANSPORT

COMPETITION WITH RAILWAYS. AUTHORITY EXPRESSES VIEWS. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “If the general public, in our view, want an additional service they should see the railway authorities. If the Railways Department cannot give the service required, it should put on a road service; and if it will not do that, then, and not until then, will we grant a road license to others,” said Mr J. D. Hutchison (chairman of the No. 8 Transport Licensing Authority), when rejecting in Christchurch yesterday an application for a goods-service license to operate between Timaru and Dunedin. * The applicant was Hurnphris’ Motors (Christchurch), and objections were voiced by Mr E. S. Brittenden for the Railways Department. Mr M. Bethell was associated with Mr Hutchison , who added that his statement was the opinion of this authority only, and referred to districts in which road services had been taken over by the Railways Department. For the applicant, Mr G. A. G. Connal claimed that strong public opinion desired a through road transport service from Christchurch to Dunedin. At present this service could not go south of Timaru, and a petition had been received from a large number of merchants in Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin asking for the through service. “We felt that at the end of the period of automatic licenses a number of these services which were running parallel with the railway would be cut out,” said Mr Brittenden, “but the generally better financial conditions resulted in a change of feeling and only one was cut out.” The authority a few years ago had stated* its policy as being in favour of those services being bought by the railways, he continued. The present application was not l ased on spontaneous public demand, for if it was, those who were so keen on its success would have appeared :n its support. The solicitation of signatures, said Mr Brittenden, was a simple matter, for they could be secured for any petition at any time and in any number. Mr Hurnphris had had the opportunity of buying out the previous service, but he refused, declared Mr Brnvcenden. The applicant thought that the department would pay for the service for him. There had been a feeling that it was not fair for the department to ask for the elimination of road services competing with the railways unless some . compensation was made. The previous owner of this particular service was compensated at a reasonable price, and the present applicant wanted to take up the running without cost. “We think that the position is just as we have set it out before,” said the chairman. “After the automatic provisions expired it seemed to us that it would be very unfair if services were put off the road without any compensation at all, but when they were bought by the Railways Department the position seemed satisfactory.” However, if the department could not meet the demand with its rail service, and refused to provide a road service, public demand for a road service would be considered. The application was refused.