Transport service for shoppers ends

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 8

Transport service for shoppers ends

A Christchurch woman’s “shoppa bus” service has collapsed through what she describes as her own unbusinesslike approach to the venture.

Mrs Jean Hallman started the service two years ago and estimates she has lost about $12,000 through it since then. “It was just getting worse and worse. I probably should have stopped it a year ago, but could not bear to let down all the people using it,” she said. “I am not a very busi-ness-type of person and probably did not charge enough, but some people could not have afforded any more.” For $4, Mrs Hallman took mostly elderly people be-

tween their homes and a shopping mall so that they could do their shopping.

Passengers were given about two hours to shop and a cup of tea was provided before they returned home.

The service was supported financially by the Canterbury United Council.

Mrs Hallman had to borrow money to buy the eightseater Bedford van and has had two other jobs to pay the cost of keeping the bus on the road.

However, the cost of repairs, petrol, and other bills got out of hand, she said. “I am not making any excuses for myself,” said Mrs Hallman. “The United Council and everyone else who supported the service were really terrific.”

The loss of the service has come as a shock and disappointment to regular customers. One woman who used it each week, Mrs Edna Smith, said it had become a real afternoon’s outing rather than just a shopping service. “I enjoyed the company of the other passengers and formed a lot of friendships through it,” said Mrs Smith. "Quite often we had a ‘Cook’s tour’ of the city to collect people.” Mrs Smith said she had had difficulty getting about since a recent stroke and was very pleased when she came across the service.

“Luckily I live quite close to the Northlands shopping mall and so it will not be too expensive to take taxis,

but people who live further away from the shops may not be able to afford to do that. “Mrs Hallman was such a wonderful person, always obliging and helpful.”

In spite of her own losses, Mrs Hallman said that there was still a need for such a service and she hoped someone else would take it over. “I have lots of ideas, but no financial backing. Perhaps the taxi service or the Aged People’s Welfare Council would be interested in taking over,” she said. Mrs Hallman said that her main concern now was for the people who had relied on the service. She might take them out in her own car to do their shopping.