Hanaco ski bid approved

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 10

Hanaco ski bid approved

Hanaco Enterprises, Ltd,, has taken risks over the last! two years to build up a business j transporting skiers to and i from the Porter Heights ski- ! field, and it was improper to I deny its application to extend the service, according to the No. 9 Transport District Licensing Authority I (Mr D. L. Hogan). Mr Hogan ruled on an [application by Hanaco Enteriprises to increase its 12'seater mini-bus service to Porter Heights from one bus to two. He granted an amendment to the passenger service; !licence No. 2258, thus giving! Hanaco the right to increase . I its service to the field. j The application was! iopposed by Midland Coachlines, Ltd, which has! '!had a licence to transport: ipassengers to Porter Heights' ,from the late 19605. ; i The Midland service was; j discontinued in 1973 when it I ;was found to be uneconomic.! but the tours manager of; 'Midland Coachline« Lt'’ <M-I i T. N. Direen), said that it Iwas unfair to say hi.-, ; company was trying to I “jump into” the bigger I market created over the last ■ two years by Hanaco Enterprises. • Mr L. W. Lloyd, who appeared for Hanaco, had j suggested that Midland I decided to begin using its i licence again, after a break ■of six years, when it became I apparent that Hanaco’s i business was profitable. Mr Direen denied that j Midland knew Hanaco would make an application to| ncrease its service to; : Porter Heights. After tali I with the ski-field! i management late last year,: : Midland decided that it \ i would once again take up its!

.option to transport skiers to! ;!the field. The decision to resume ac-j tivities was not taken in al : fit of spite, said Mt Direen,! but was based on sound! economics. Midland intended to run coaches of up to 48- ; seat capacity daily on the run when the season started. Mr Hogan declined Midland’s application to block Hanaco’s extension, and said that because the Midland option had been stopped in 1973 it had become redundant and ’should have been revoked. Hanaco, on the othei J hand, had started business in j 1977 with only one coach, J had taken risks to establish 'lthe business, and was now I able to expand.

An application by M. W. Collins Carriers, Ltd. Christchurch, for a hew continuous passenger service licence to use a truck converted to carry passengers to and from the Craigieburn Ski Field was granted by Mr Hogan.

The truck would be adapted from a goods service vehicle and would ferry ski-club members and their friends on a commercial basis to and from Craigieburn, said Mr Hogan. An application by Kea Ski Tours, Ltd, of Meth ven, to add three passenger service vehicles to its licence No. 2258, was further adjourned to June 1.