OBSERVATION BUSES

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 6

OBSERVATION BUSES

Operating Without Profit AN EXPERT’S EVIDENCE Among those who had something to say to the Civic Inquiry Commissioners on the running of buses was Air. N. Bell, of the Bell Bus Company, which runs a service between the city and Ngaio and Kliandallah, and also an observation bus service round the bays. In their report the commissioners say that Air. Bell advocated that the observation bus service carried out. by the tramway department for portion of the year should be abandoned as the department could not operate the service at a profit. Sir. Beil at times takes passengers booked by the tramway department, for which he pays 10 per cent commission. Mr. Bell admitted that the business is practically confined to visitors and tourists, it being of very little value to the citizens of Wellington, as everyone who has a car makes it available to his friends. “The Bell Bus Company operates under a more liberal award than that of the tramway department, and each driver takes a personal interest in the success of the service.” “Discussing the bus routes of the city, Air. Bell stated that the council had some very bad areas to serve," the commissioners continue. “It was a case of cheap prices and low loading and hill roads, and that there were very few bus routes in Wellington that could be made to pay, and that he would not care to ran ou them purely as feeders to tlie tramway system.”