OMNIBUS TRIPS AND PETROL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 10

OMNIBUS TRIPS AND PETROL

ANSWER TO CRITICISM BY CORRESPONDENTS

“POSITION CAREFULLY WATCHED”

A careful watch in the interests of petrol conservation is kept by the Transport Department on the use to which such vehicles as buses are put. This was emphasised yesterday by Mr J J B. Connor, district officer of the department, in replying to recent comments. by correspondents to The Press” and in particular to a letter signed “Kapito,” published on Wedneswill advocate the complete abolition of bus services of the kind referred - to by ‘Kapito,’ ” Mr Connor said, “because ,to, do. this generally would dislocate . many. important undertakings: of an economic-social character, for which bus, transport is essential. “The operation of these buses has been considered carefully by the Government. Subject to the jurisdiction of the licensing' authorities, the policy limiting'operation of contract trips has been laid down for the guidance of the authorities. Those trips considered by. the Government to be necessary or desirable are still receiving licences, each case still being considered separately. Contract licences were suspended at the beginning of the war, so that each operator . should apply m respect of eacn'-trip 15 enable the sltua-

tion to be carefully watched the whole time. v ‘ . , ... “There are many services to ’which •Kapito’ probably objects—dances, picnics, lodge meetings,; and others. In respect of a, good many of these, licences are only, granted when the party hiring the bus provides its own petrol-by'surrendering coupons for cancellation—the effect of that being that by using the bus they are using their own private car petrol. . “The general position, then, is under control and carefully watched. Undoubtedly, too, many of the trips which have probably aroused the interest of individual observers are those conducted by the use of private petrol referred to.”