BUS SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 137, 13 June 1938, Page 9

BUS SERVICES.

DEFERRED AGAIN. ST. HELIER'S LICENSES. —— i LICENSING AUTHORITY CLASH. There were clashes of opinion between members of the Auckland Transport Board, sitting as the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, this morning when the question of renewal of the licenses held by L. J. Keys, Limited, to operate bus services between the city, eastern beaches and Orakei was considered. The question lias been deferred since last l>ecember, and after discussion to-day, following on a motion that the licensee be granted for an enlarged time-table immediately, it was decided to defer the matter for another fortnight, a temporary permit being granted in the meantime to run a revised and increased service to Orakei as from Sunday next.

The ball was set rolling this morning when Mr. Marshall White, representing a committee of residents set up at two public meetings at Kohimarama and St. waited on the board and said that the residents of the district were by the authority's refusal to grant licenses earlier being deprived of a 2~> l>er cent improved time-table which had been offered by L. J. Keys, Limited. It was impossible for any bus proprietor to gire this better service until the licenses were granted. The people of the district concerned were satisfied with the services that the company had supplied, and were anxious for some finality to be reached in the matter.

Operation At Once. The Hon. F. K. Lark asked if the licenses were granted could this revised time-table be guaranteed to operate at once. Mr. White: It would be the duty of this authority in that ca*se to see that it did. In answer to Mr. J. Sayegli he said j that the committee which he represented I had been set up at meeting* attended by J 20(1 and 300 people res|>eetively. He was I certain that he was expressing the feel- I iiigs o" the district. | -Mr. J. A. C. Allum moved that the I application for licenses by L. J. Key*, | Ltd., be granted immediately and that they should/be for three years. "The delay in this matter is inimical to the welfare of the districts and to Orakei in particular," he said. "In order to improve their fleet, also to run more intensive time-tables, the company •hoiild be assured of long tenure." The responsibility for providing the increased services was the licensee's, and the board would naturally see that the obligation was fulfilled. "Interests of People." In seconding the motion, Mr. F.. .T. I'helati said that it was necessary, in the interests of the )>eople, to complv with the requests. He l>elieve<l that the services should be the special dutv of the I ians]x>rt Board, but as nothing had been done about it. it was time that the pi i\ ate company was allowe<l to continue with reasonable security. Should the board take over the services at the end of that time there would l>e no goodwill to pay and iiolkklv would suffer. But it was time to make a definite decision

Mr. K h. Lark said he regretted that the issue had been sidetracked. The board could not be blamed for any hitch that had occurred in negotiations, and it was not at the wish of the board that proceeding* had been delayed. It was Itecause of the representations made on behalf of the licensee. Delay Suggested. Mr. Savegh then moved as an amendment that the whole matter be deferred until the next meeting of the Licensing Authority. He said that it was necessary first to see what had been done liv the committee which was responsible for negotiations on this matter. There was no reason why the matter should not be delayed for a short period. He did not want to see the citizens' interest; rushed in this case. They might be asked later to buy something which would tie much clearer then. Mr. .1. S. Montgomerie seconded the a mendment. "I would like to ask Mr. Keys a question," said Mr. Lark. Mr. Keys slid in answer to questions that it would not do any harm to adjourn the matter for a fortnight. He could commence the new schedule within a fortnight if he was granted the licenses. It could be carried out with the present fleet, but some vehicles would have to tie altered to act as stand-bys. He asked that he should be allowed to commence the new time table to Orakei from Sunday next on a temporary permit. "Shilly-shallying." Mr. Allum asked why the board should be willing to allow Orakei to have a permit and not all the rest. He was in favour of a general temporary permit if the matter had to Ik* stood down for a fui'tnight. "The people of the districts are fed up with all this shillyshallying." he said. "Let us settle it now, after we hold the regular meeting of the Transport Board."

The chairman, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said that as Mr. Keys had offered no objection to the matter standing down for a fortnight there was no need to rush it. Mr. H. A. Anderson urged that it should lie settled at once. Mr. W. H. Xagle said that there were factors of great importance which should lie heard by members. After that had been done the matter could he settled to-day. Mr. Lark: I am now in a fog. What has a meeting of the Transport Board got to do with this authority? The amendment that the matter should be deferred for a fortnight was then put and carried, Messrs. ,L A. C. Allum. H. A. Anderson and W. H. Xagle voting against it. Mr. Simpson, secretary of the Orakei State Residents' Association, who was present, then stated that the matter had been carefully covered by Mr. Marshall White. The only request he had to make was that permission would be granted for the enlarged service on a temporary permit from Sunday next for Orakei. " j The request was granted by the ichairman.