'BUSES AND TRAMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 258, 31 October 1929, Page 9

'BUSES AND TRAMS.

NEW CONCESSION CHARGES.

UNDERTAKING MUST PAY.

REASONS FOR CHANGES.

Declaring that the board was acting on the principle that the undertaking must pay its way, the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, stated to-day in reply to criticism, that in his opinion there was little merit in the suggestion that the board should abandon its 'bus services. The only services which were being operated by the board with no prospect of being substituted by trams, at least for the next few years, Mr. Allum said, were those operating to Waikowhai and Blockhouse Bay. "The board does not propose to grant licenses and then be faced with the necessity for paying goodwill to regain those services," declared Mr. Allum. In regard to Blockhouse Bay, he added, residents of that district had expressed a desire that the board should continue its service, 'and they were not anxious that private operators should take it over. As to other 'bus services operated by the board, proposals either had been submitted or would be submitted concerning them. "The increase in the charges for concession fares applies to 'buses as well as to trams," Mr. Allum stated, thus correcting an impression to the effect that the new arrangement affected only tram passengers. The omnibuses were responsible for the financial loss incurred by the board, but in view of the fact that most of their 'buses would soon be replaced by trams operating along the exended lines, the board was dealing with the undertaking as a whole and not in sections. In regard to prospects for an improve- i nient in traffic returns during the remaining five months of the financial year the chairman said that in the opinion of the general manager higher returns were not likely during the summer months. With the exception of the Christmas period summer traffic was lighter than that of the winter months. The necessity for immediate action, Mr. Allum maintained, was emphasised by the fact that two months had elapsed after the secretary had drawn up figures which estimated V substantial loss on the .year's working.