WITHOUT RAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 9

WITHOUT RAILS.

ST. HELIER'S TRANSPORT

MANAGER'S PROPOSAL BOARD DIVIDED. - LICENSE QUESTION DEFERRED. A committee recommendation that a license for three years to run buses along the waterfront roadway to St. Hcliers be granted to L. J. Keys, Ltd., was rejected by the Auckland Transport Board to-day. It was decided to defer for six months consideration of the whole question. Before this decision was reached there ■n-as a long discussion on the question as to whether the board should operate . a temporary bus service or give a license to the present bus proprietor. The general manager. Mr. A. E. Ford, recommended a license for five years, and said that at the end of that time the road would be in condition to carry a 1 trackless trolley service. Cost of Trolleys. Referring to the cost of operating; trackless "trolleys, Mr. Ford said that oil the first proposed route along Quay Street and the Waterfront Road, to .serve Orakei Point. Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St. Hslier's, eight sixty- . seater cars would be required at a cost of £22.400. and the overhead equipment for the service would be £24,600, a total of £47,000. Interest and sinking charges would amount to £6470, and the working costs would aggregate £12.715. The receipts were estimated at £21,802, thus leaving a surplus of £2614. On the second route from Sturdee Street via Quay Street, Waterfront Road, then via W hakatakataka - Bay Road, Ngaiwi Street, Coates' . Avenue, Orakei Roau and St. Heliers 'Bay Road to St. Heliers. five thirty-four seater cars would lie needed at a cost of > £ 12,500, while construction work would • be necessary to the extent of £10,500. Working costs would aggregate £13,505, : and the receipts would only be £4689 a vear, making an estimated loss of £Sl9. It was considered that a loss of £1273 would also be made on a feeder bus service between Meadowbank Road tram terminus and the intersection of St. Heliers Bay and Ivohimarama Roads. A 25-seater bu: would be employed on the route and the service would vary from 40 minutes to every 20 minutes in peak periods. Working costs would be £2084 and the receipts approximately ; £611.

Loss on Combined Services. 'I.; '"It will be seen that should the board decide to operate trackless trolleys along l ike Waterfront Road only the receipts are estimated, to exceed the total ex- . penses by £2614 ?. year/' added Mr. Ford, a "It is, however, obvious that the operation of the service over this route be undertaken with modern trolley buses, practically the whole of 'the through passengers at present carried '-by Keys, Ltd., would be diverted to the ~ board's service via the Waterfront -Road. ... This- means • that the .service now . operated by Keys, Ltd.. along the existing routes, would almost certainly be dis- ■ eontiiiued; • Estimates for Nos. 2 and 3 services, he added, showed that to operate them " in addition to the first service, the expenditure would exceed the receipts by £7478 a year. In view of these facts and that the waterfront roadway would not be sufficiently consolidated for some . considerable time to permit of modern, "large capacity double-deck trolley omnibuses- being used on it, it appeared reasonable to allow L. J. Keys, Ltd, time to fully provide for depreciation on his undertaking. -

On tie ground that the road would not be ready for traffic for some time yet. Mr. 11. J. Coyle supported the committee's contention that the license should be for three years. The residents would lose nothing by it, and the board -would have the opportunity of completing its heavv programme of work, which would keep it occupied for the next three rears.

Mr. L. E. Rhodes considered the board should establish a temporary bus service. till the road was consolidated. Reports to be Obtained. Mr. Potter: Arc we not considering this as a licensing authority? You talk ; as though we were an operating rityMr. Baildon (chairman) ruled that the board was acting in its judicial capacity. Two amendments, proposing the deferring of the report for six months, were moved by Messrs. Phelan and Entrican, and ultimately the board decided on . the latter's proposal that (I) The manager":! report be received, and consideration of it be deferred for six months, pending a report upon the necessary changes in transport in the other portions of the Tamaki district when the extension of the tramway system to Meadowbank Road is completed. (2) That a report from the City Council be awaited indicating when a full service can be run on the waterfront road by Mr. Keys with his present plant; and (3) that Mr. Keys be requested to sub- ■ Tnit' ,a draft time-table and scale of fares on both routes to take effect on the tramway, extension being competed, and on the completion of the waterfront road. The voting on Mr. Entrican's amendment was: In favour, Messrs. Phelan, Woods, Rhodes, Entrican and Baildon. Against: Messrs. Coyle, Ashley, Morton and Potter. "Birthright of People." * Several amendments were before the hoard in the course of the debate, which E. H. Potter opeued by urging a five years' license for Keys, Ltd. He s aid it would take eight or nine months before buses could be built and placed °n the route, and it would be impossible to* liquidate those expenses in three years. Mr. E. J. Phelan took strong exception to the proposal that private enterprise should be allowed to run a service on the new route.. Th"> locality to be served was one that won 1:1 respond to proper treatment, and it was in the power of the board to give a service equal to any'in its area. If it became necessary to take over" the services run from St. Helier's through Remuera to the city, the board should not be afraid to face that responsibility. It would have to cater for the "backblocks" in the same way as Mr. Keys had to if he were allowed to run buses along tne unTertrout read.

"That road is the natural birthright of the people. It has cost the city over £200.000. It has opened up a tine district which is capable of being developed. and I strongly oppose giving a license to private enterprise," concluded Mr. Phe l an.