SERVICE ROUTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20500, 19 March 1932, Page 8

SERVICE ROUTES.

APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES. \ CENTRAL AUTHORITY SITS. The first sitting in Christchurch of the Central Licensing Authority, under the Transport Licensing Act of 1931, was held in Christchurch yesterday, when 33 applicants applied for permits to. conduct services from one district to another. The Act has declared that. applications for licenses to conduct motor services which traversed more than one licensing district must come before the Authority with the object of ensuring co-ordination between road and railway services. Colonel S. S. Allen presided in the absence of his Honour Mr Justice Frazer and with him on the bench was Mr H. B. Johnstone. It is anticipated that the sitting will not be concluded until Monday. Before, the Authority heard local applications it was announced that three applications previously heard in Dunodin had been granted with certain restrictions. They were as follows: — Dunedin City Corporation for a bus service between Dunedin and Waipori, via Outram; the Mount Cook To'urist Company for the service between tho Hermitage and Timaru, and Hunter's D.O.T. bus service between Dunedin and Oamaru. West Coast Service. G. M. Harcourt applied for a permit to conduct a motor service between Hokitika and Arthur's Pass. It was admitted by the applicant that the service had been conducted in' an erratic manner in the pastr The applicant stated that he desired to meet trains in season from December Ist to April 30th. The fares sought to be charged were 30s each way. It was intended to run a return service each day. Newman Bros, opposed the application, stating that the company had met the Christchurch express at Arthur's Pass for some years, and maintained that tli ore was not sufficient traffic to justify a second service. It was submitted that by running only kn irregular service the applicants had not complied with the provisions of the Act. The application was refused. Newmans Motors, Ltd., applied for a permit to conduct a summer seasonal service between Arthur's Pass and Hokitika. Harry Newjman, manager of Newmans Motors, Ltd., stated that his company had conducted such a service regularly for years. In his opinion one service was sufficient to cater for all the traffic offering. He would oppose any other application to conduct such a service. The application was granted, the service to be conducted three times a week, permission being also granted to make a deviation to Kumara on race days. Lake Coleridge Bun. M. J. Jeal applied to conduct a service between Christchurch and Lake Coleridge. For the applicant it was stated that the service was at present maintained by one car. The service had been com-, menced about ten years ago and was a daily one except on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Mails were carried on the service. It would be agreed not to pick

up passengers beyond a point a quarter of a mile from Riccarton bo as not to interfere with the Tramway Board'b service. It was proposed to charge 15s each way, or 30s return. The Railway Department, in opposing the application, stated that there .were, a'number of points on which it was desired to cross-examine the applicant, who should be present for the purpose. The Department charged the following fares to ! Darfield, through which place the motor service ran:— Single first fare 4s Id, return 7s 6d; single second 2s lOd, return 5s Id. On market days (Wednesdays) the Department charged 5s for a first-class return fare from Darfield and 3s 6d for secftndclass. Market day fares were : issued oniy from Darfield for the convenience of country people. The service touched Aylesbury, Kirwee, and the only three centres of population served by the Railway Department on the route. It was submitted that in view of the .services at present operating on the route permission be refused to pick up passengers between Darfield and Christchurch. For the applicant, it was stated in reply to an objection from the City Council against licensed cars running off the route, that it,would be a hardship not to allow passengers to be picked up or set down at hotels or other premises used for residential purposes. At the same time it was, not desired in any way to compete with taxi-cabs. Regarding the railway fares „ between Christchurch and Darfield it was stated that the motor service did not run on Wednesdays. Decision was reserved. Southbridge Service. W. Day applied for a permit to conduct a service between Christchurch and Southbridge. '■ The Christchurch Tramway Board asked for protection of its service which traversed part of the same route. The applicant stated that the service was commenced in 1924. The. fares were 6s 6d return and 4s single. He charged 4s Id return on market days, to assist the farmers. (Laughter.) , The Railway Department opposed the application, and asked that the applicant should be allowed to use only one bus from Southbridge to Christchurch in the morning, in consequence of a train leaving Southbridge at 7.45. A similar request was made in respect of the afternoon service from Christchurch owing to a train leaving at 4.50. Decision was reserved. Pour Services. L. Laugesen. and Son applied for a permit to conduct a service botween Christchurch and Springfield, Christchurch and - Whitecliffs, Christchurch and Methven, and Christchurch and Hororata. Keith 'Laugesen, manager- for the Midland Motorways, Ltd., said that the route followed by the buses to Methven. left the railway route at Rakaia. The fares were 6s 6d single and 10s return. On Wednesdays the Railway Department' charged '6s 6d return. The other three services were all licensed under the Motor Omnibus Act. In all cases the fares charged were a • few pence higher than the railway secondclass fares. Permission was* also sought to make deviations to run to race meetings at Methven and Hororata. - The Railway Department stated that there was an . early morning train from Methven to Christchurch, and an afternoon train leaving Christchurch, enabling passengers to-spend seven hours in Christchurch. It was submitted that the trains were able to deal with the position. It was suggested that the service time-tables should be altered so' not to compete with the railway. A. further suggestion - was .that the;

fares charged Springfield-ChristchiirehTgj^S^^Wmß be run at hours whic6' diet with tram '• point for consideration fares betweerf BpringfUJ|l to Christchurch should t£| pensate train passengers'* - trains dtr taxis to reiteh,^ Application was made' , Chapman for a permit to vice between Christchurch August Meyers, a. resident; Creek, . said that the trwn#;3H §9ERH| previously served the now run. Prior to the apphsM |H||»; ing his service it was jHBB^ resident of the district ceed -to Christchurch, to-Jwjß To counsel for' the • Clements, witness said think anyone would be duct a special service John Elorrell, of Clements had once run district, but stopped . Since then ' the applicant County, supported the/ appKc*fe§j|g|f|^ Applicant stated that he his route in order not to Mr Clements. It was of the route which running through .the oth^.jmHHHH An objection to the service IripfflHHj in.writing by Mr- L.. of the. Oxford County Council;;|||wW Sydney E. Clements, service between Christchntw ora and Oxford, said Creek and View Hill To counsel for stated that he had stopped' through Ohoba and HorreJviß^jSHßß Decision was reserved. S. E. Clements applied fot>£|MHE to continue his service church and Oxford, and View Hill and Cooper's Ct6£l£|HWK The Railway Department 'MwJSnHHi the fares .be increased so - allow them to remain in with the railway services. > Decision was reserved. The same applicant sought to continue Ms service between isgUß' church and Rangiora. The Railway Department the question 'of fares. -, , " Decision was preserved. .-jSHH William . Stickiwgs (9ouW'» applied for a permit to eonwjtSHH service between Christchurch. poi, five return trips uui and one via Marshland. Decision was reserved. k ''^|H W. J. P&rrett's applicatiM^Sffl^™ tinue his service between and SpringstoD was opposed,^*^^^^* The applicant stated two trips weekly, one nesday and one by night Permission was of the starting place be decided by the City • Permission was granted ehurch Tramway Board > service between. Christchw^ Counsel for applicant service had been conducte^|| Kjj The hearing of further ■ K TKill .be taken to-day, comn«MMngj