BUS SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 6

BUS SERVICES.

The recent report from the Transport Board re the Blockhouse Bay feeder bus service "is* not surprising to anyone conversant with the unbusinesslike manner of running the buses.. The surprising thing is that the board, .Ska, persisted for so. long in running the Manukau . Boad bus via Wolseley Road When the obvious, connecting point is by the fire station in Manukau Road. The feelings of patrons do not seem to be considered by the board, as whey when on a trip to the city, feels comfortable when the bus turns away from the destination and takes a decidedly round-about.route, with no # advantage in doing so? I would like; to know how the board has estimated the fares it has lost through this amazing deviation. Does the board consider the numerous expatrons, who have now no' bus service, and are yet on the direct Manukau Road route to the city? The uncertainty of everything with such a "Take it or leave it" policy has, to my knowledge,: decided families against building in this district. The statement that a' private-company taking over the buses would not-pay requires some consideration; the same thing was said about Henderson and Glen Eden, and the residents there have now not only a more efficient and frequent service, but one that is also highly profitable under private control. No doubt the Blockhouse Bay buses would pay well if they were allowed to run into the city; therefore" it is quite right that they be subsidised should they be compelled to hand over their passengers to the trams. May I suggest that the. Transport Board face the position squarely and admit it is unable to run any service, be it tram or bus, as ably as a private company would do, and that it dispose of all services to private enterprise, the Transport Board to issue licenses and fix maximum fares chargeable, and see that adequate time-tables are adhered to, also that vehicles are safe and hygienic for carrying passengers ? W. J. FISH.