HIKURANGI BUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 202, 28 August 1933, Page 9

HIKURANGI BUSES.

NEW LICENSE ISSUED.

NORMAN AND SONS' CLAIM. APPEAL DECISION SEQUEL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANCAREI, Saturday. The decision of the Appeal Board revoking the license granted by No. 1 District Transport Licensing Authority to Norman and Sons, and granting the Whangarei-Hikurangi service to the Northern Bus Co., was officially conveyed at the meeting of the local authority in Whangarei to-day.. Later a fresh application by Norman and Sons in respect to the same route was heard. "The question of licenses for this route has come before the Transport Appeal Board," said Mr. R. K. Trimmer, representing Norman and Sons. "The board gave a decision upon the facts presented at that time, it is not within my province to criticise the judgment, but if we had then been able to. present the facts as we will do to-day, 1 am certain that the board would never have considered revoking Norman's license. The financial position of Norman and Co. was taken into serious consideration by the Appeal Board. We are in a position to tell you to-day that if they are given the license Norman and Co.'s financial stability is unquestionable. Smith and Woodman, the owners of the buses under the hire-purchase agreement, are prepared to guarantee the purchase of any additional vehicles whicli may be required, the running expenses and the provision of the service with anything which the inspector may require. Mr. Franks, of the Lifebuoy Rubber Co., is willing to enter into a similar arrangement in respect of benzine, oils and tyres. If the authority is prepared to grant the license I have authority to state that the necessary documents will be completed by these firms ■ "The two buses which Normans have on the road are the only two in Whangarei built to Public Works specifications." continued Mr. Trimmer. "They cost £2025, of "which £1175 has been'paid off in monthly instalments. The proprietors have never missed a single payment. If granted the license Normans will be able to complete the whole of their payments by the middle of next year. "The Northern Bus Co. now has to j take over the borough service previously | operated by Hamilton and Sons, which, in the past 12' months, conveyed 45,000 passengers. Tn addition to that they will have to cater for the 42,000 carried last year by Normans. I submit that the company, with its present fleet of eight buses, te absolutely unable to cope with the existing traffic, .let alone an extra 00.000." Judgment was reserved and decision was given by the chairman this afternoon, when he said the authority had decided to grant the application, the reasons for which would be given- in writing early next week. The application will be subject to time-table regulations.