Economic and convenient service main concern of Transport Bd hopefuls

Press, 7 October 1980, Page 45

Economic and convenient service main concern of Transport Bd hopefuls

( Providing an economic and convenient bus service is the main concern of candidates for the Christchurch Transport Board.

Many feel that timetables and routes could be changed to better suit the transport needs of Christchurch.

An in depth survey made by planners in the last two years and a half will be completed and made available for the new board to consider.

• The main problem facing the board is declining patronage. Most candidates are confident that if passenger numbers can be increased the board’s finances will be on a sounder footing.

. A more attractive and, in some cases, a more frequent service will help attract more people to use the buses, candidates say. The financial management of the board is also seen as an issue by some candidates. The need to keep fares low is recognised by most condidates but some differ on the amount to be met by rates and the amount of Government assistance.

Seve r a 1 candidates would like to see the electrification of main routes and many feel that there is a need for timetables, route maps,and shelters to be provided at bus stops.

A total of 19 candidates are standing for the nine seats on the board.

T. N. D. Anderson (Labour)

Sitting member, (no biographical details supplied).

Mr Anderson said that the transport board should improve and extend its operations, relating them closer to the transit needs of people in Christchurch.

A realistic' and simplified fare structure with incentives for regular travel, appropriate concessions for the elderly, all students and others on limited incomes can assist in increasing bus use, he said.

An effort must be put into promoting and marketing board operations, with better timetable, information and complaint services.

; Consultation with bususers and community groups will be essential in assisting with the necessary’ re-design of the bus System, said Mr Anderson. Mrs H. M. Bonisch (Citizens)

Sitting member for six years, former post-primary teacher, former treasurer, vice-president and president of the Canterbury’ branch of the Federation of University Women, married with two sons. The transport board should be run as a business in the best interests of the public who pay for if, Mrs Bonisch said. The public should be kept informed of - the . board’s policies and actions and the balance of rates and fares to pay far ’.the service should be njaintained, she said. A problem facing the board is that of providing a service which best serves the needs of the ’travelling public. The growth of suburban areas as shopping and business communities has changed the . movement requirements of peop - Research in this field should help the new board to establish 'services the public need, she said. D. S. Bowie (Labour)

.“A” grade auto diesel engineer, also qualified, in fitting and turning machinery;, served on many committees and -sports ', ■

Mr Bowie said that the board could be run more efficiently than at present, giving people a more economical and convenient service.

The bus service should be increased to what they were six years ago and then expanded to give more residents the opportunity to use the service. The buses would then become a major fuel-saving device, reducing the number of one person-driven cars, he said. Electric vehicles and smaller buses could also be used to save fuel.

Some ring-route systems should be introduced and maps locating bus stops should be made available, said Mr Bowie.

D. B. Bruce (Citizens)

Sitting member, married with three children, chartered accountant, an associate New Zealand Institute of Management, a former New Zeraland Jaycee regional governor. The increasing cost of fuel is having an effect on the running of the buses and the cancelling of the carless-day schemes has resulted in a drop in patronage. It appears that part of the shortfall in expenses must be met by fares, he said. The board’s operation will, therefore, require careful management to continually control the situation.

The Citizens’ Association had worked to provide an efficient and economic service to Christchurch, with increases in costs being apportioned between ratepayers and passengers. “This will continue to be my policy,’’ said Mr Bruce.

B. De Vere (Citizens)

Two children, associate of Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, immediate past president of New Brighton Businessmen’s Association.

The board has a responsibility to ensure that every rate dollar is spent for the maximum benefit of the majority and it is important that sound management be chosen, said Mr De Vere. Management should be chosen by the ability of the candidates and not by political affiliations, he said. As energy costs become more acute, greater emphasis will be placed upon public transport. Ratepayers have to make a responsible decision in respect of candidates in this election or possibly suffer the consequences of greater rate increase, said Mr De Vere. Mrs A. M. J. Ensor (Labour)

Married, former kindergarten teacher, chairperson of Burn«ideMerivale branch of New Zealand Labour Party in 1979 and secretary this year,. studying sociology and political science at the University of Canterbury. Bus patronage could be increased by making the service more attractive. More seating and well-de-signed bus shelters oh major routes should be used, Mrs Ensor said. She believes that weekend services are poor and do not service entertainment venues such as the Christchurch Arts Centre or the Town Hall. Wee k-end patronage could be encouraged by offering passes for unlimited travel between 6.3opjn. on Fridays and midnight on Sundays; A constant review should be made of time-

tables and bus destinations and an attempt made to ascertain whether they fit in with the lifestyles of the community, she said.

Mrs C. J. Evans (Citizens)

Married with two children, president of North Brighton Residents’ Association. city council appointed member to Queen Elizabeth II Park, east division Commissioner for Girl Guides.

Mrs Evans said that her interest in public transport stems from being a bus commuter, with a special interest in suitable and adequate transport for the disabled.

The board should supply services that people require and so should listen to suggestions such as circular and ring systems.

She would like to see a bus depot where all buses leave from the same point in the city instead of haphazardly scattered round the Square but .said that this is a dream, riot a promise.

Mrs H. L. Garrett (Citizens)

Sitting member. city councillor for 12 years and chairperson of cultural committee, frequent radio broadcaster, served on council of New Zealand Library Association.

Mrs Garrett said she is determined that the ratepayer will not be asked to subsidise the bus service to an unreasonable extent.

C. M. Hansen (Independent)

(No biographical details supolied.’) Mr Hansen said that shelters and seats should be provided at all bus stops. Services should continue to run for nightclasses. week-end picture and railway services, he said. D. J. Kelleher

Present chairman of Transport Board, insurance broker, company director, Dominion vicepresident of the Insurance Institute of New Zealand.

Dropping patronage because of increased use of the private car and in? creased running costs of the service are the main problems facing the board, said Mr Kelleher.

Increasing the bus. patronage 'is the answer to these problems. With more income the service can be updated, he said. The bus service has to be reasonable in price, convenient and comfortable.

Mr Kelleher said that the board has been working towards a modernised bus fleet, new systems, concession fares on offpeak times, and transfer tickets.

Lady L. E. Macfarlane (Labour)

Sitting member for 16 years, has served 19 years on North Canterbury’ Hospital Board, vice-president of St John Ambulance committee, served on various Aged Peonle’s Welfare Council committees.

The main objectives of Labour members on the board will be to encourage more people to take ad-*

vantage of bus travel. Community groups, councils and patrons should be invited to make suggestions for the improvement of timetables and routes, Lady Macfarlane said. Strong representation should be made to the Government for assistance in operation costs because of considerable rises in the price of fuel in recent months, she said.

J. Mathison (Labour)

Sitting member, has been on board on several occasions since 1933, Member of Parliament for Avon for 25 years, Minister of Transport from 1957 to 1960.

The cost of operating the bus service, continuity of fuel supply, the desirability of electrification of service, improvements in timetables to encourage patronage, and the necessity of funding from central government until passenger revenue increases substantially are the main problems facing the board, Mr Mathison said. He said that since the Citizens’. Association established a majority on the board six years ago, fares have increased by 150 per cent and rates by 200 per cent. Patronage has fallen from 309,000 per week to 262,000 per week.

Labour’s policy would gradually rectify "the trend of the last six years, said Mr Mathison.

J. A. McMillan (Citizens)

Married with three children, national director of New Zealand Defensive Driving Council, past regional governor New Zealand Jaycees, Jaycees international senator, past president New Brighton Jaycees. Increasing fuel costs and the downturn in the economic climate will bring a growing dependence on public transport. Demands for an even more efficient and convenient city transport system will increase, Mr McMillan said. Satisfaction of these demands will be solved by long and short term management planning by a board comprising people with the necessary expertise rather than by trite political ploys, he said. Mr McMillan believes that as national director for the New Zealand Defensive Driving Council, he is well placed to make a worth while contribution to the Transport Board. P. V. Neary (Labour)

Registered engineer qualified in mechanical and electrical engineering, president of New Zealand Clean Air Society’, married. An increase in the patronage of Christchurch buses would benefit everyone. Mr Neary said. Buses use less petroleum products per passenger kilometre than cars and create less air pollution and environmental damage His efforts to persuade ratepayers to use public transport will be endorsed and strengthened if he is elected .to the board, Mr Neary said. The’ -need to conserve

non-renewable resources and the city’s flat terrain should prompt early consideration of electrifying some main transport routes. Mr Neary believes his experience as a professional engineer and early background in public transport make him well qualified to make a positive contribution to the board.

P. G. Sharpe (Citizens)

Sitting member and deputy chairman, married with two children, company director, past president Christchurch Jaycees, past regional governor. North Canterbury-West Coast region of New Zealand Jaycees. The re-evaluation of the transport system will be a main issue facing the new board with an in-depth planner’s report being prepared for consideration, Mr Sharpe said. However, the financial feasibility of any change should be kept in mind. Any change will have to be within the board’s present financial resources.

Mr Sharpe said that relationships between board, management and unions could be better and an improved understanding of each point of view should be encouraged by the new board.

T. G. Smith (Labour)

Married with one daughter, book-shop proprietor, past assistant secretary Canterbury Storemen and Packers’ Union, past secretary of Canterbury branch of Actors’ Equity, chairman Wainoni-Aranui branch of New Zealand Labour Party.

Customer services need to be upgraded: and more information such as timetables and route maps should be displayed at bus stops, Mr Smith "said.

He said that because of the rising cost of public transport, the service should be expanded. An increased service would generate patronage. The board must investigate alternative vehicle designs and give serious thought to the number of different passes offered for ’ us travel.

It was essential that the clearway system be maintained or expanded to ensure buses have the priority in the use of road space during peak hours.

G. Stone (Labour)

(No biographical details supplied.) The board must turn away from fossil fuels and switch to electricity,, .ethanol, methanol and methane. Mr Stone said that he would push for the gradual electrification of main routes. To help with finance, the board has to diversify and increase profitable charters, promote service into unserviced areas, promote smaller buses for evening and week-end offpeak services, increasing patronage by promotion and bettering the regularity of service, develop parcel freight service, and seek increased central government funding, Mr Stone said. More shelters and information should be made available, concession cards should be rationalised, allday passes should be introduced and fares should be held at the lowest possible level, he said.

C. L. Sugden (Citizens)

Married with three sons, senior partner in firm of chartered accountants, chairman . Christchurch Citizens’ Assocation.

It is vital to Christchurch that the board be administered as efficiently as possible to give the best service to the people of Christchurch, said Mr Sugden. The board must be run as a business, using proven management skills to ensure that it is run as economically as possible. Realistic financial policies are a necessity, he said. Staff relationships, should .be maintained at the highest level, said Mr Sugden. P. Turner (Labour)

A fitter-welder, age 22, single. Mr Turner feels that he can represent the younger people of the community who are a signif’eant user of public transport and are often the most affected by alterations or abandonment of services.

He said that he would protect the public’s right to an adequate, versatile transport service based on social needs as well as ensure a frequent service is maintained at evenings and week-ends, extending and re-routing services where justified.

He accused the Citizens Party members -of the board majjority, of gross financial mismanagement and said that Labour’s policy would help rectify matters.