OMNIBUS "WAR."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 8

OMNIBUS "WAR."

CUT RATES AT CAMBRIDGE.

REFUSAL OF A LICENSE.

BOROUGH COUNCIL INDIGNANT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CAMBRIDGE, this day.

There is a mild "war" on here between the two principal motor services between Hamilton and Cambridge. Trouble has arisen over the failure of one service to secure an omnibus license from Hamilton Borough Council as the license authority, and trouble is being caused by the Kiwi service now being allowed to run an extra service on the Hudson service's advertised time-table. Fares have been brought down 3/ return to Hamilton, and at present the public are reaping the benefit.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening, when tlie Mayor stated that the Hudson service had been refused an omnibus license owing to their vehicles not complying with the omnibus regulations.

It was urged that the omnibus regulations were reasonable for services in the town of Hamilton or from Hamilton to its suburbs, but a different matter on the lengthy run from Hamilton to Cambridge. It was contended that the omnibus regulations were never intended to meet such a situation, and that service car regulations were more applicable.

The Mayor, Mr. T. R. Richards, intends to bring down a remit at the next council meeting to be forwarded to the Municipal Conference, "That a representative board, comprising representatives of local bodies within a given area should be set up, and meet regularly to decide on the issue of licenses." It was unfair that Hamilton Borough Council should have power to decide what services should run from Cambridge to Hamilton. The Mayor's suggestion was approved. It was decided that a letter be sent to the next meeting of the Appeal Board sitting in Hamilton, asking that every consideration be given the Hudson service's application for a license, as the proprietor was providing a good service to the people of Cambridge.

The Hudson service has its headquarters in Cambridge, while the Kiwi service has its headquarters at Hamilton.