METHVEN BUS SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24052, 14 September 1943, Page 3

METHVEN BUS SERVICE

ADDITIONAL WEEKLY TRIP AUTHORISED

An application for an additional twoway bus trip weekly between Methven and Christchurch, via Highbank, by Midland Motorways, Ltd., was granted by the No. 3 Transport Licens- - ing Authority (Mr T. H, Langford) yesterday. The service has been confined to trips on Wednesday and Friday, an inward trip on Friday night and return trip on Sunday. Mr W, R. Lascelles said the application was supported by the Ashburton County Council. Relying on the railway only, the feed was frpm a distance, and therefore by car, with a consequent heavy consumption of petrol and tyres. Much quicker transit was given by bus, which gave users greater convenience for the transaction ofbusi-, ness in Christchurch. The railway was inadequate for the needs of residents of the Highbank and Barr Hill dis-* tricts. some of whom bad to go eight miles to link up with the train, whereas they were right on the bus route. The extra petrol required was only about 10 gallons a week. Louis Keith Laugesen, managingdirector, of the company, in evidence, said the bus left Methven at 8 am, arriving at Christchurch at 10.10, and on the return trip left Christchurch at 4.45 pm., arriving at Methven at 7.10. The train left Methven at 7.40 am., arriving Christchurch at 10.13, and on the return left Christchurch at 5.5 p.m., arriving Methven at 7.52. Mr G. H. McLean, district traffic manager to the Railway Department: Could not these passengers be conveyed by you to the train? Witness: They could, but would it be an economic proposition? He added that there used to be a daily bus service on the route. “The loading on these buses is terrific,” said Mr Langford. Apparently the people in the territory did not i find the train convenient. The areas served by the bus were the most thickly populated in the district.