Bus planning urged

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 3

Bus planning urged

Those running public bus services should do more planning of vehicle replacement, said the president of the Motor Body Builders’ Association (Mr J. A. Waddell) at its annual conference in Christchurch yesterday.

Too many passenger transport concerns delayed their re-equipment to the latest stage, then had a situation of ‘‘extreme urgency” when their fleets were “almost run;

'ning into the ground, Mr| Waddell said. This caused unreasonable demands on the New Zealand coach-building industry, and demands to the Government for imports of built-up vehicles, regardless of the local industry. It was extremely difficult to run an efficient motor body' building industry when the demand was a series of peaks [ and hollows, said Mr Waddell. , “I would like to see Government encouragement of, J or even involvement in. 'national planning of over-all ■ public passenger transport , requirements, including

[vehicles. This is essential if we are to avoid the costly fluctuations in demand which the present unplanned situation creates,” he said. The demand for commercial, coach and busbuilding was no greater than I for many years. The increased demand had been caused by population growth — which had led to greater demand for road transport — and by an upsurge in the tourist trade. The industry was limited by lack of skilled labour and the irregularity of demand from the transport industry, said Mr Waddell.