HIGHER FARES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 190, 14 August 1939, Page 7

HIGHER FARES.

WORKERS' TICKETS.

BUS COSTS INCREASE.

RESULT OF PETROL TAX.

OPERATORS' PLEA GRANTED.

Owing to the Budget increase in the petrol tax workers in some Auckland suburbs will pay more for their weekly bus tickets from Mondav next.

This was decided at to-day's meeting of the Auckland. Transport Board, sitting as the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, when applications for permission to raise the faros were received from Transport Bus Services, operating the Transport Board feeder services, and alr-o Suburban Buses, Limited, a private company, operating on the City-Te Pa pa pa route. Mr. \Y. H. Xagle presided.

Presenting the case for Transport Bus Services. Mr. T. H. Bonnett said the increase of kl per gallon in the cost of petrol would mean an annual increased expenditure of approximately £.">OO. "We cannot, of course, meet the whole of this additional cost," his report stated, "and after careful consideration request authority for increased rates for weekly tickets. "We estimate that £218 could be found by this means, and other economies we' Id save £208. the balance of approximately i- 1 .'55 being met by the partners. The following schedule will show the cash fares ami concessions granted to users of weekly tickets:—Pre- Saving ]2-trip sent New on Route Cash Price l'rice Fare Blockhouse Ravt'lty 9/ 4/6 5/ 4/ Blockhouse RavPitf Street . 9/ 4/6 5/ 4/ Hosplmnk Koadt'ir.v 8/ 4/6 5/ 3/ Avondale-Oit.v . 7/ 4/3 4/6 2/6 Three Kings-City (bus only I .. 1/ 4/3 4/6 2/6 Waikowliai - City (bus only) .. 9/ 5/3 5/6 3/6 "Still a Saving." "It will be seen from this that even, with the increased fares the weekly tickets still mean a considerable saving to regular passengers," the report went on, "and in the case of Blockhouse Bay the amount is still in excess of anyother route. With the increased rates a number of passengers' will, of course, find other means of transport and this, we estimate, would be about 71 percent. This has been allowed for in our estij mates." The application was granted.

Suburban Buses, who operate on the

Te Pa pa pa-City service were also granted permission to increase workers' weekly fares and concession tickets by amounts ranging from 3d to 9d.

Representing the company, Mr. V. X. Hubble pointed out the increase would return to the company about £400, whereas the extra cost of 4d a gallon would cost the company between £600 and £700 a year. Already the company had been obliged for part of last year to bear the cost of higher wages, a certain shortening of hours and extra holiday pay. Over the 10 years that the company had operated dividends had been paid [ on two years only—in 1935 and 1936. Xo increase was asked in cash fares, but the company could not operate successfully on the present rates. Increase Warranted. When permission was granted after evidence had been offered by the manager and accountant of the firm, the chairman, Mr. W. H. Nagle, said the authority had been assured on an inspection of the books that the increase was warranted. As it was, the estimated return from the increase would not cover the extra cost of operations.

Mr. J. A. C. Allum said it should be made clear that it was only by bearing a certain portion of the 10.-s themselves that the operators could keep the services running.

An application bv the same company for }>erin ission to vary the route to serve a new area in the lawa. RoadHorotutu Road section was opposed by the engineer and manager, Mr. A. Ford, wlio said that the board was consider in? a service for tl.e needs ot that particular area. It was decided iO defer the niai.ter for a month. In connection with the added cost due to the petrol tax it was repoi ted latei in the meeting by Mr. Ford that as a result of tlie increase the board would be involved in the expenditure of an additional £224 1(5/ a year to service its trucks, tower wagons, motor cars and other internal combustion engines. The number of gallons of petrol used annually was approximately 13.458.