TRAMS V. BUSES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18724, 22 June 1926, Page 10

TRAMS V. BUSES.

POSITION IN SYDNEY.

UNPAYABLE BUSINESS. An article fror.i a Sydney newspaper, telling of tho. plight .of tho bus proprietors of that city, was before the Tramways Board yesterday in the form of a report/ for the information of the Board and the Christchureh public. Thearticle was as follows: — "Sydney's bus business, generally speaking, is in a bad way. During the week 50 buses were taken off the streets, and-200 employees thrown out of work. There are indictaions that further stoppages will be announced shortly; It is all because many of-the buses cannot pay.. TheLr running costs are high, and their upkeep and depreciation enormous. ■ "Competition between the buses and the trams has been costing the Government £300,000 a year owing to the buses running along routes already served bv trams, taking away business that in tho'. ordinary course of events would be handled by tho trams. ; "Citizens may say that they had better service between trams and buses, but the': question arises, who is to -pay the losses of the bus companies and the losses incurred by the Tramways Department? Out of the inability of certain bus proprietors'.to continue-: to. give service has arisen the suggestion that the Government should take over all the bus services, compensate the owners, and uso the buses as feedersto the trams. It is:hardly,-likely,,how : . ever, that the Government would be foolish enough to pay compensation in the acquisition of business services that are losing propositions. ''.'■,.„ i "The idea of the Government taking over the buses is regarded as feasible, and as a possible paying. proposition. The Government Ms; been- giving at-, .tention to the question, and sibility is that.a large, number of;buses will .be taken over—at, a fair price, with no-fancy figure for compensation attached—and used as feeders to certain sections of tramlines on which is.a long run. In various suburbs there are largo..numbors of. people. 'living long distances from 'the tram' lines, and the matter that is receiving !tho most serious consideration from ithe. Government, is. that of giving transSport -to those .residents', by means, of .buses which will not' make the long ;runs against the tram's, but' will' put ; the people on to the.trams. "The.: Government ..would; bo follow•ing a prudent, course of action if, it. :were to set ,up,a Commission qi Enquiry •to deal with the whole matter. Then it | could ascertain the earnings of the Jbuses, running costs, and other expenses, and be in a position' to deal fairly and justly with the owners; a" 1 conserve the;.i-it>rests,of the State. ■'.'The majority, of the companies are not paying, and they must.either increase fares or go out of business. I think it is a golden opportunity for the Government to nationalise the industry and run buses in conjunction ' with the trams.'' This statement was made by Mr J. McMahon, until recently -president of the Bus Proprietors' Federation. The plight of the bus owners' "isj in' Mr McMahon's' opinion, . due to" the de luxe type of bus, which is how- generally in' use, and. to. too much competition. . ■ •■..■. "These buses, when they first came into ..use, were .a, paying proposition,' he stated, ."but after a time 'they began, to wear,-and the cost'of-de-preciation had to be met by'-the'owners. Now, ini.oxder\to meet the large'sums needed, for depreciation, .the proprietors, must needs,'increase' fares—or 1! go', out, of' business."' Two,'.-companies- have; already : applied for"permission 1 to 'increase, fares;.. ■ .: , , , . . ■■' ■". ■' ..';<.<Mr McMahon. thinks that if. .the Government took over the : buses,- and ran tlyui in conjunction with • Vthe trams, they would pay H run on proper lines.: The buses should be-used' as 'feeders' for trams„and on roads Tvhere there, are no trams. . , • • , "The .matter must be looked at broadmindedly, and from the .point of . view of the public," concluded Mt.McMahon. "And for their sake, ifc.istost for the .Government,to.taLe action. ... ■The report was adopted, members expressing 1 the hope that it would be pub-, lished. . .