ROAD TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 3

ROAD TRANSPORT.

PUKEKOHE SERVICE

LICENSE RENEWAL SOUGHT. QUESTIONS BY CHAIRMAN. Co-ordination at Papakura of tlio bus and rail services was urged on behalf of the Railway Department when the Auckland Provincial Bus Company applied to the Xo. 2 Liucneing Authority for a renewal of its license for a bus servicr between PiikcKolic and Auckland. Evidence called nn behalf of tlie applicant to show that the bus service I ia essential to 'iic welfare of the districts served. "To (liscuntinuo the bus service to Auckland would bo a calamity to the Manurewa district." snii Mr. Fleming, | representing tbe. Town Bowrd. "1 can confidently star;; that the business community of Papakura does not want the bu* service interfered with," declared Mr. S. 11. God den, who quoted a resolution of the Papakura Chamber of Commerce; opposing any restriction of the service. On behalf of the Department it was (shown that there are D train and 10 bus trips daily from Pukekohe to Auckland, and Us train and 14 bus trip* from Pupakura to Auckland, Except between Pukck"*! and Papakura the buses run quite close to the railway. "Which is More Important?" Further evidence in support of the bus service w.m iriveu by Arnold L. Cooper, clerk of the Papakura Town Board. "Which is the more important —convenience to a few people or a reduction in th« national cost of road maintenance?" asked Mr. J. A. C. Alluin, chairman of the authority, when witness ha.l mentioned the facility that the bus provided to school teachers which the railway, because of ite time-table, did not do." Mr. Alluin added that witnessed ha.l continually stressed the convenience of the bus services, but the authority had to consider also the fact that the public amenities hud "become a burden to the Dominion. Witness said that his board wae not averse to the railways, but they did not provide the same facilities :ie the buses. Wilfred Wheeler, £i vi "o evidence for the applicant company, said that a feeder service from Pukekohe to Papakura was financially impossible. On last year's figures the revenue from that portion of the route (on which the fare was 2/) was 1.2 d per mile, with running costs 7.0 d. Mr. G. T. Wilson, on behalf of the Railway Department, said that nn these figures the servic" averaged only one passenger for every other bue between Pukekohe and Papakura. "Question Changed." Mr. Alluin said that according to witness, evidence the question changed from the necessity for a feeder service to justifying the bus service after Papakura." The evidence for the railways showed that there was a need to look after the interests of the residents of the districts between Pukekoho _ and Papakura, but according to the witness it seemed thai his service was essentially one between Pukokohe a.nd Auckland. TJie question then arose whether, in the event of there being adequate transport from Pukekohe to the city, the bus service was justified. Mr. Wilson pressed for information regarding the traffic from the intermediate districts between Pukekohe and Papakura, and it was decided to adjourn the hearing until next Monday to allow of a conference of the partiee on this matter.