PARNASSUS-CHRISTCHURCH CAR SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20572, 14 June 1932, Page 14

PARNASSUS-CHRISTCHURCH CAR SERVICE.

.10 THB EDITOR Of 7HE I\a*33 Shy--For- tlio last eighteen months or so a Williams Motors car has been running from Parnassus to Christchurch, leaving in the morning and >-uiiiiiig back in the late afternoon; a une-d'ay trip, giving ample time lor a (.'.ay's business or flopping, and at a price to tuit the average purse. This car has catered for tlu farming community resident between Waipaxa anu the Conway river. The Appeal JLJoa,rd has refused this company a license for this trip, ill spite of tho I'act. that the majority of the residents signed a petition asking for a renewal of the license. For those who live in this part of the country there is no other public means of transport to Christchurch and back in the day. The Railway Department did for some time run a day-trip train on Wednesdays to suit the 'farmers, but stopped this in it did . not pay, and when requested to renew this service refused to consider the matter on that ground. Now travellers from this part of the district must spend two nights and one day in Christchurch, practically three days wasted, to do business or shopping in town - , unless they can afford to travel bv private car. If the Williams Motors Service is put off the rond it will not mean that the railways get the passenger traffic; it will mean that fewer will go tip to Christchurch or people will go less cften. The Railway Department has suggested that Williams Motors run between Parnassus and Wnipara to connect with a train to Christchurch, and thus continue the day trip. This might run for a month or two, but would not Ik; patronised, being inconvenient, and so would be stopped because not paying. The railways are laid down; and the public is to be obliged to use them without consideration for the cost in time or convenience. But n private trader must improve his fiervice to attract the public. Anyone who has travelled a distance by car and train to do shopping will know which is the more convenient when returning with parcels. This, though a local matter, raises a question of principle. Are the rights of tlie private citizen to bo swept aside as in Russia? How soon will it be until there is no car or lorry 011 the road, except those owned by the Railway Department? By small degrees democracy becomes autocracy ! Whose rights is the Transport Board protecting? _ Is not the first and fundamental question the convenience iof the locality wrved?—Yours, etc., ' M. E. IRWIN. Cheviot. June 13th. 1932.