READ’S MOTORS ACQUIRED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21793, 27 May 1936, Page 10

READ’S MOTORS ACQUIRED

Little River to Akaroa Service PURCHASE BY RAILWAY DEPARTMENT [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, May 26. The Railway Department has completed negotiations for the purchase of Read’s motor service, operating between Akaroa and Little River, on the route to Christchurch. The Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), who announced this in an interview this evening, said that the purchase would eliminate all competition among passenger carriers on the route.

“The purchase of the Little River to Akaroa passenger service from the Read family, following on the recent acquisition by the department of Ramsay’s Motors, operating between Christchurch and Akaroa, completes negotiations which have been proceeding for some time between the department and the vendors,” Mr Sullivan said, “and it completes the co-ordination under single ownership of the whole of the licensed passenger-carrying business between Christchurch and Akaroa by road and rail. “The elimination of the competition on the Christchurch-Little River-Akaroa route will undoubtedly be in the public interest, because a more convenient service will be provided to the advantage of local residents, and financial benefit will accrue to the general taxpayer, as all the services taken over will be profitable in themselves, and will enable a reduction to be made in the railway operating costs. The complete service will be maintained at a standard consistent with the most modern requirements of passenger transport for business and holiday travel,” the Minister said. “I am pleased to say that these negotiations, cs in recent transactions of the same kind, have been carried through amicably, and with satisfaction to all concerned.”