NORTH BEACH BUS SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21792, 26 May 1936, Page 9

NORTH BEACH BUS SERVICE

TRAMWAY BOARD’S DECISION EXPERIMENTAL TIME-TABLE APPROVED The recent decision of the works and traffic committee of the Christchurch Tramway Board to inaugurate a petrol bus service between Berry street and the Ozone Cafe, North Beach, was confirmed, with minor alterations, at the meeting of the Tramway Board yesterday. The chairman, Mr J. K. Archer, presided. The service commenced yesterday, and the time-table, which was embodied in a report from the committee, provided for two inward trips from Berry street, at 8.25 a.m. and 1.22 p.m., one outward through trip from the city at 5.7 p.m., and a feeder connexion at the Ozone Cafe with the trolley-bus leaving the city at 5.35 p.m. Two midday trips were recommended for Saturdays, a through trip from the city at 12.7 p.m. and a feeder connexion with the 12.35 p.m. trolley-bus from the city. The report recommended the charging of a cash fare of one penny for the extended trip, as this was regarded in the nature of an experiment. Mr W. J. Walter objected to the extra charge and moved that the recommendation be referred back to the committee. The motion, however, lapsed for want of a seconder, and the report was adopted. It was provided that the service would be continued until July 31, when the position would be reviewed. Traffic Control Conference The chairman, Mr Archer, deputychairman. Mr G. Manning, general manager, Mr H. E. Jarman, and traffic manager, Mr W. Dick, were appointed to represent the board at a conference called by the City Council to consider the gyratory system of traffic control in Cathedral square. The works and traffic committee reported the following accidents in which tram-cars or trolley-buses were involved during April:—Collisions with motor-cars, 7; collisions with trucks, 5; collision with bus, 1; alighting from tram in motion, 2; collision with horse and dray, 1: alighting from stationary tram, 1; collisions with cyclists, 2; total, 19. Mr Manning said he had received representations asking for the construction of a tramway shelter shed near Waltham Park. He thought it should be made clear that the provision of shelter sheds was not the function of the board, but was a matter for the local body administering the area concerned.

The chairman added that the question was at present the subject of negotiations between the board and the City Council. An increase in revenue for the last week-end, compared with the corresponding period last year, was reported by the general manager, Mr Jarman. On the Saturday and Sunday in 1935 the revenue was £609, against £668 this year, an increase of £59. The weather was fine in both instances.