SAVING PETROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 178, 29 July 1940, Page 4

SAVING PETROL.

MINISTER'S APPEAL.

UNNECESSARY SERVICES.

LICENSING AUTHORITY VIEW.

Cancellation of .sightseeing and contract trips and special bus services catering for racegoers was discussed at to-day's meeting of the Auckland Transport Board sitting as Metropolitan Licensing Authority when it was announced that four operating companies, including the Transport Board, had been advised that such licensee were to be reviewed following a special appeal from the Minister of Transport, the Hon. E. Semple, earlier in the month. Mr. W. H. Xagle presided.

"At the present time a considerable amount of oil fuel is wparently being uwed by vehicles undertaking sightseeing work and contract trips for pleasure, and having regard to the present need for conserving supplies of petrol it would seem that there is considerable justification for the cancellation of a number of these services," the Minister's letter read.

'"I should be glad, therefore, if your Licensing Authority would go into the question of cancelling the licenses of all sightseeing and contract services under its control which, in view of the present emergency, cannot be considered eseential."

Sightseeing Falls Off.

The first case dealt with was that of the Auckland Bus Company in connection with sightseeing trips and for the company Mr. H. Vialoux said an attempt had already been made to reduce petrol consumption by cutting out the long Waitakere Ranges trip at 10 o'clock in the morning. There were fewer passengers offering and he suggested that there was no need to cancel such licenses if a clause was inserted enabling the company to refuse to run unless a certain number was offering. He added that there was a rush during the visit of American boats and it seemed that the Government was still advertising the sightseeing trips overseas—a fact which would make it awkward if they were cut out.

Pointing out that the company's license expired on August 31, the chairman moved that the matter be deferred in the meanwhile and that no action be taken, the whole question to be gone into when the new application came before the board.

The Auckland Transport Board, L. J. Keys, Ltd., Suburban Buses, Ltd., and the Auckland Bus Company, Ltd., were all concerned in the matter of contract trips, and Mr. Vialoux pointed out that the matter had come before No. I Licensing Authority last week, decision being reserved.

It was decided to follow tlie same lead, each operator to submit a full return each month showing why the trip had been made, the number of miles covered and the amount of petrol used, in order to assist the authority in its judgment. It was pointed out that contract tripe that involved the carrying of football teams from one place to another could hardly be called pleasure trips, as the game assisted in fitting the young men for the positions they would take up in the army. Race Feeder Services. Only two operators were concerned in the running of trips in connection with the races. On behalf of the Auckland Transport Board the engineer-manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, said that bus trips from Avondale and Point Chevalier to the tram terminus in connection with Ellerslie, Alexandra Park and Avondale races used a total gallonage of only 261 a year, whereas private cars would be used if they were not there and would run a total of 5952 miles and use about 331 gallons.

"As long as there are races we must cater for them," said Mr. Ford, "and we find the bus service we run the most economical way of catering for them."

Mr. J. A. 8- Keys appeared for L. J. Keys, Ltd., and advanced similar arguments, pointing out that the greater portion of the fleet was Diesel driven and did not draw on rationed petrol stocks.

It was decided that no action be taken in the matter.