LICENSE REFUSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1928, Page 5

LICENSE REFUSED.

WAIKOWHAI BUS SERVICE.

TRAMWAYS OPPOSITION.

DISSATISFACTION IN MOUNT

roskill.

An application by w. E. Parkinson for permission to establish a motor omnibus service between Wehesley Street and Waikowhai was declined by the No. 1 Licensing Authority this morning.

The town clerk of Mount Eden wroti stating that tlie fares and other particulars shown in the application were satisfactory, and were virtually the same as those which a conference of Mount Roskill and Mount Eden representatives asked the city to run. The service had been urgently demanded by residents who believed that a satisfactory service 01 through buses should be run.

The Mount Roskill Road Board heartily supported the application. A list of convictions (in respect transport offences) was submitted by the chief traffic inspector, who added that he believed Parkinson was of goou character. Oppoied by Tramway! Department. 11l a report by the manager of the tramways, Mr. A. E. Ford, It was stateo that th 6 Tramways Department opposed the application on the grounds that the department holds a license and is operating services on the routes applied for, and that the area was already adequately served. The distance from the Mount Eden terminus to Waikowhai was 4.31 miles, and beyond the Mount Albert Road the route was through a sparsely-populated district. When the papulation of these districts was sufficient to warrant a more frequent service, the department would be prepared to £ive an increased service.

Mr. Terry, who appeared on behalf of the Mount Eden Borough Council, called the borough traffic inspector, who stated that the services beyond the Mount Eden and Dominion Road tram termini were inadequate. As a consequence people were not encouraged to settle in the dis tricts.

Mr. J. A. C. Allurn: Is it seriously suggested that if this application ia jgranted the City Council's feeder service should still be maintained? —No, this service would be sufficient.

The Chairman: We are running a great many more trips now than what you propose.—Yes, but this service would run right round the district, On a circular route, and I believe it would relieve a great deal of congestion.

Inadequacy of the Service. John Moody, building inspector, stated that people often walked if they missed a feeder bus, beciuse the intervals between buses were from 18 to 26 minutes Many houses recently built were unoccupied because of the inadequacy of the services, and the long distance to th terminus.

The Chairman: You say 18 minutes too long, but the applicant proposes tr run only a two-hourly service.

The applicant said his time tahlp hp been misread. What he proposed was a 7£-minute Service at peak hours, ami a 20-minute service at other times.

Miss Melville: Would the people prefer a tram service beyond the present termini?—l would't like to answer that question.

Mr. Tozer, who appeared on behalf of the Mount Boskill Road Board, stated that the future of Mount Roekili depended solely upon the adequacy of the transportation services. There was an estate of 800 sections, which would eventually carry a population equal to the whole of the present population of Mount Roskill—sooo. The existing service did not serve the whole area.

Why be Twice Penalised?

Miss Melville said the City Council had already been penalised by having to take over the G.O.C. buses. Why should it be penalised twice tinder the same Act of Parliament t The council had been put to large expense by a district whicb was not prepared to shoulder any responsibility. Mr. Tocer: You admit that your buses are not paying—the papers are fujl of it. Miss Melville: There are lots of things in the papers that we don't agree with. An endeavour was made by Mr. Allum to get from Mr. Tozer a statement as to the number of passengers and other facts regarding the alleged inadequacy Of the service. Mr. Tozer replied: "Certainly your service is inadequate when you charge 3d, as against the Id fare charged before." Mr. M. J. Coyle: Are the people in your district unanimous? —There is a big wave of dissatisfaction. A large section of the ratepayers is not divided. Mr. Entrican: When will these 5000 new residents go to live in Mount Roskill? In 50 years?—No; I have enough faith in the growth of Auckland to say they will be there in five years.

Mr. W. H. Murray wanted to know how much the service conducted by the council had lost during the last few months.

The Chairman: Oh, nobody could answer that!

Bias is Asking Questions.

Mr. Baildon moved that the applies tion be declined.

In supporting the motion, Mr. Phelan said ho was afraid some members of the committee were inclined to display bias in asking questions. Members should refrain from this, as it created a bad impression. When they were in committee they—— Mr. Baildon: We are not in committee now. Wo are sitting as the Licensing Authority—not as the City Council. Mr. Phelan: That is my point, sir. We must not look at the matter as if we were the City Council, when we are the Licensing Authority. It was spitefulness to ask for such a ridiculous service as the one proposed, said Mr. Coyle. Miss Alice Basten said that the timetable was not very clear, but as far as she could make out the applicant was offering a better service than what the city was supplying. The present service was not paying, said Mr. Entrican, but it was supplying a need, and a good service was being maintained. The present service should not be prejudiced by inviting competition.

Mr. Stallworthy thought the district would be better served if the City Council continued its responsibility. If the penny fare would bankrupt a company and render that company incapable of supplying any sort of service, then the sooner people made up their minds to pay an economic fare the better it would be.

The application was declined, on a unanimous vat*.