ROAD SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1936, Page 8

ROAD SERVICES.

CONTROL BY STATE.

TWO FURTHER PURCHASES. MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Kail ways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, announced to-day that the 'Railways Department had taken over two additional passenger road services in the-South Island. They are Hunter's D.O.T. Motors, Limited, operating between Dunediu and Oamaru, Dunedin and Timarii, and, Oamaru and Kurow, and the Mount Cook Tourist Company's Eglinton Valley passenger service, operating 011 the Luinsden-Manapouri-Te Anau-Eglinton Valley route.

"The purchase of these services effects further valuable co-ordination of road services under single ownership," saiu the Minister. "From the public aspect it is satisfactory to know that* while the price paid in each instance has reasonably recompensed the vendors, the Department's estimates show that after full allowance is made to cover cost and depreciation both services can be run to supply the best modern standards of comfort and convenience, and at the same time provide a reasonable return on the investment. The D.O.T. service taken over includes stock and garage plant. The assets of the Eglington Valley service include licenses, garage and plant at Lumsden, seven vehicles and Cascade Camp with plant and equipment.

"Jt is important to bear in mind that the whole cost of opening up the territory beyond Tc Anau to Mi I ford Sound, which is exclusively a national park, has been incurred by the Government on behalf of the people, who are entitled to financial and other benefits arising out of the development of the area and the handling of the transport requirements by a national transport concern, with all its resources and equipment."