PUBLIC BUS SERVICES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27496, 2 November 1954, Page 14

PUBLIC BUS SERVICES

IMPLICATIONS OF APPEAL CASE EFFECT ON TRANSPORT BOARD DISCUSSED The Christdhurch Transport Board may soon consider the whole question of what licences are likely to be approved for services in new areas and the rights of public and private operators. The matter was raised yesterday when the board was formally advised that Midland Motorways’ appeal against its Papanui-Winters road extension had been upheld by the Transport Appeal Authority. “We must recognise that this decision has been made by a judicial authority and that it would be futile, if not improper, to criticise it,” said the chairman (Mr C. C. Holland). “The board also recognises elements of fairness in the decision.” What did surprise him was that Midland Motorways should press their claim, Mr Holland continued. He had the impression that the company had entered the board’s area while the board did not have enough vehicles, but that once theboard was able to give service the company would relinquish these operations quite happily. The important question was where did this appeal decision lead to. There would be parallel cases which would possibly affect areas now served by private enterprise, Mr Holland said. Christchurch had the space for housing to spread and this was one of the factors in its expansion. Amenities; including public transport, followed. It was a fact that the board’s vehicles did travel through some sparsely populated areas to serve outlying communities.

“If this is the trend of the licensing people it may be that the board wifi operate in a more compact area,” Mr Holland said. “No doubt short services can be operated more economically, but I had envisaged that this - board might serve much wider areas.” “I feel that the board can not let it rest at this stage,” said Mr G. D. Griffiths. “It means that people in the metropolitan area are paying rates to keep this board going, but are deprived of our services.” It was the board’s duty to investigate this anomaly. The position in the Winters road area would apply also north and west of Christchurch and it was the board’s duty to see that its ratepayers had service, as it were, to their front doors.