PASSENGER BUS SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24604, 28 June 1945, Page 6

PASSENGER BUS SERVICE

METHVEN TO RAKAIA DECISION OF TRANSPORT LICENSING AUTHORITY The Railways Department was granted i> licence to run a passenger bus service from Methven to Rakaia, by the No. 3 Transport Licensing Authority in Christchurch yesterday. The application for the - licence was opposed by Midland Motorways Services, limited (Mr W. R. Lascelles). , Mr F. G. Clark, District Traffic Manager of the Railways Department, - said there was a mixed train running between Methyen and Rakaia, but the service was unsatisfactory to the public, and It was desired to run a bus service, and use the railway merely for goods traffic worked from Christchurch. Mr Clark said he be- { lleved that If a licence was not granted, the department would be forced to continue to run the mixed train. Mr Lascelles' contended that as the Midland Motorways Company already had established a service from Methven to Christchurch, it. should be allowed a deviation of route so that it could cater for the whole district. The extra service would Involve a financial loss to the company, he said, but it would ensure that, the company’s present sendee was protected. “We are only asking to retain a service we already possess," said Mr Clark. “We must retain oUr connexion with the main line trains, and we have the- transport of our own staff to consider.’* The service was desired so that greater efficiency could be accorded the public, and, existing shelter shed facilities on the railway line would be available to the bus service, which would run alongside the line. Decision Reserved Decision was reserved when the application of Claude William Belcher (Mr. Lascelles) for a licence to run a passenger bus service from Parnassus to Christchurch, and return, on four days a week, was considered. An objection was entered by the Railways Department. Belcher was a returned serviceman, said Mr Lascelles, and before going overseas, he had been employed as a bus driver for about IS years. As he had considerable experience, the acquisition of his own business would be the ideal form of rehabilitation. The district was a large one. and had at present no satisfactory service to bring residents to the city for business and shopping and return them to their homes on the same day. Representatives of the district had agitated for a buS service.

Evidence was given by, Mr L. K. Laugesen, managing-director of Midland Motorways Services, Limited, that he had assisted Belcher. In investigations, and Mr Laugesen was satisfied that the service could be run, and would provide a reasonable return to the owner.

Residents of Cheviot, Parnassus, Omihi, and Scarglll gave evidence of the need for a bus service, and considered that the service proposed by Belcher would receive public support and guarantee Ills success. A representative of the Rehabilitation Department said the department was satisfied that Belcher would obtain his livelihood from the service. Mr R. V. Frederic. Christchurch district manager of the New Zealand Railways Road Services, said he had recently investigated the need for a bus service from Parnassus, and had found it would not be a payable proposition. The department had been approached by a deputation from the Primary Production Council and Farmers’ Union, of Cheviot, and it had been decided to start a trial service for three months from Kalkoura. The decision had been made before the Department knew anything about Belcher’s intention to apply for a licence. In fact, said Mr Frederic, he had been in complete ignorance of Belcher’s application until Tie’ case came before the authority yesterday. The trial service had been started this week from Kalkoura, said Mr Frederic, and on Monday 19 passengers had been carried. Nine of them travelled from Kalkoura, and only four from Cheviot. "While not wanting In any way to obstruct a returned soldier in rehabilitating himself,’’ Mr Frederic said, 'T am convinced that a service from Parnassus or Cheviot alone, would not be a payable proposition.”