BUS FARES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 112, 14 May 1929, Page 5

BUS FARES.

I ST. HELIER'S "DESPERATE." REDUCTION SOUGHT. APPEAL TO TRANSPORT BOARD. Bankruptcies, rows of empty houses, fewer pupils at the schools, people leaving the district. These were some of the things for which the present transport fares to St. Helier's Bay was blamed by a representative deputation of residents which waited this morning on the Auckland Transport Board. "We are not dissatisfied; we are desperate," said Mrs. Ruby Watson, who spoke of most of the handicaps referred to above. She said that before the war, when things were dear, .the return fare Auckland 'to St. Helier's was 1/0, whereas to-day, when prices of motor necessities had come down—she was assured, by 33 per cent —the return ticket was 2/. It was a shame to see a charming suburb like St. Helier's going back because of the transport. Miss I. Wilson said that for a man, his son and daughter it would cost over £50 a year in fares, travelling to business. Mr. J. H. Hubber agreed that the bus service was all right, it was only the high fares that were complained of. Mr. R. Fawcett said the residents had been told they could not get any reduction in fares. The fact of the matter was that the people were making up the losses incurred during the da,js of competition with the boats, and they were also paying the petrol tax. Mr. -Bradley assured' the board that no one in St. Helier's was satisfied with the present state of affairs. Mr. F. C. Jordan complained that the St. Helier's Bay people for their ninemile run had to pay higher fares than the people in any other Auckland suburb. Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Transport Board, explained that the license for the motor bus was an annual matter. The license for the service ran on until the licensee did something that would cause the license to be cancelled. Ho- promised the deputation that the fullest and most careful consideration would be given to the matters raised. The matter was referred to the board in committee to consider, representatives of the deputation to be present, and the holder of the license for the service also to bo called.