LENGTH OF NEW BUSES

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 6

LENGTH OF NEW BUSES

OFFICIAL APPROVAL OBTAINED

“It seems to be a general feeling among the public that the board has made a blue’ over the length of its new buses,” said Mr J. R, Smith at a meeting of the Christchurch Transport Board yesterday, when he proposed that a direct denial of such a state of affairs should be given. The general manager (Mr J. F. Fardell) gaid that several years ago the Transport Department had approved the use of 331 t vehicles on some routes, including Sumner and New Brighton. When specifications had been written and tenders called for the new buses plans had been brought before the Transport Department, which had approved the overlength. He said that there were other 33ft long vehicles in Wellington, Dunedin and Timaru and in Auckland there was a 35ft vehicle, Mr Fardell said that a new bus had been up Huntsbury Hill, where there was the worst turn in Christchurch. A. smaller bug had had to take two turns to get round. Manufacture of Buses The board has received 19 of its new buses and a further eight are in Nc.w Zealand waters. Forty-one buses have been shipped by the makers. Re-' porting this to the board Mr Fardell said that he had visited England earlier this year to expedite the deof the vehicles on order from A.E.C., Crossley, and Park Royal. After investigating the position Mr Fardell said a joint meetipg had been held with the manufacturers’ representatives at which they had been informed that the number of vehicles finished had not been satisfactory and that a considerable improvement in tne manufacturing rate was needed Mr Fardell said the representatives had given assurances that everything possible would be done to expedite completion and delivery of the vehicles, but difficulties had arisen Which mitigated against a better production how They were: (a) short supply of steel dye to the rearmament programme.- (b). unrest in the industry; and (c) difficulty in • obtaining door gear. Mr Fardell said that the question of door gear had been taken up with the manufacturers and if had been found that their supply position was unsatisfactory. The result of the inquiry had been that the rale of supply to meet the demands qf the bodybuilders had been increasedBut for a Strike in the Park Royal factory, Mr Fardell said, the whole qf the boards order would have been in transit. Mr Fardell said that when he arrived in England there was a scheduled three-rweekly sailing direct to the South Island, but in June this had been changed because of the cargo position sq that most ships were making their first call in the North Island ft was also foynd that a number oi ships were unable to accommodate the puses because their hatchways were too small. Shipping agents had been requested to make available space in ships which could accommodate the buses, and the manufacturers were asked to At production into the sailing dates qf these ships.