KARORI BUS SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 2

KARORI BUS SERVICES

PROPOSED EXTENSION RIGHTS OF CORPORATION AND COMPANY Two proposals were before the City Council last night dealing with extensions to the bus service between Karon and the city, and extension of the service at the Karori end. One proposal concerned the Karori-Kelburn Company, and the other the City Council bus service. In regard to the application of the Kelburn-Karori Motor Bus Company, Limited, for authority to extend the present bus service to Campbell and Beauchamp Streets, Karori, the By-laws Committee recommended that it be not approved. They further recommended that the application of the Corporation Tramways for authority to extend the present bus service operating between To Aro Post Office and Dutbie Street, to one operating between Te Aro Post Office and Kano Street, be approved, subject to the service being further extended via Verviers and Beauchamp Streets to the Old Council Chambers, Karori. Councillor F. Meadowcroft said the fare by bus and Kelburn tram totalled 5d., with a 17-miuute service throughout the day. The council buses ran to Duthie Street with 12 buses a day, and the fare was 6d. In botii cases it was desired to extend to Beauchamp Street, but the Karori Bus Company would give a 17-minutes service, only charging another penny for the extension to Beauchamp Street. He understood the Ka-rori-Kelburn people had their application in first. The council was the licensing body and lie submitted they were penalising the Karori service in favour of their own. It was hardly fair to Karori people to prohibit them from going to Beauchamp Street. He moved that both recommendations be referred back for further consideration. Councillor C. D. Morpeth seconded the motion. The Council’s Case. Councillor M. F. Luekie said the whole matter had been considered. They had the tramways manager before them, who wished to extend the bus service to Beauchamp Street, whereas the others did not at that time wish to so extend. The Act, he stated, was to protect the city’s own services, and they were there to serve the citizens the same as others. If a permit were granted to the company they did not know where it would end. The company more particularly served the Kelburn tram people, whereas the City Council’s buses came into Ghuznee Street. It had been made perfectly clear by the Minister that the statute was primarily to protect their own services. Councillor R. McKeeu, M.P., said the most objectionable feature was that their corporation officers never moved until others took the lead. He approved of the extension of city services, but they

always seemed to be blind to opportunities until others intervened. It had to be remembered that it was these private companies which forced the council into action. . , , Councillor G. Mitchell said he had been given to understand that the municipal buses were to charge 3d. for the extra section, whereas the company 'only proposed to charge Id. Councillor Luekie said that the council started a bus service to Karori before there was any other service. .This was a natural extension to the existing service. Mr. Cable was only guided by economic necessity, and he had acted with all dispatch. The Mayor said that when discussing tlie Transport Bill it was made quite clear (hat in the ease of extending existing services local bodies were to have preferential rights. . On the motion to refer back being put, it was defeated on the voices.