OMNIBUS SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1927, Page 10

OMNIBUS SERVICE

IN THE HTJTT VALLEY

REQUIREMENTS OF DISTRICT

APPEAL BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION

The hearing of the appeal against the City Corporation's decision to grant Harold Ingham (of Petone) a license to establish a motor omnibus service between Lower Hutt and Wellington, was concluded to-day before the Transport Appeal Board. The members of the board are: Mr. Justice Frazer (chairman), Messrs. H, Huggins (City Council), W. G. M'Donald (bus proprietors), S. G. Nathan (outside local authorities), and R. Ronayno (Government representative). Mr. G. G. Watson appeared for tho appellants, the bua proprietors, and Mr. T. M. Wilford represented Ingham.

APPEAL ALLOWED.

In delivering the decision of the board, his Honour said that they had come to the conclusion that the appeal should be allowed. Evidence, he said, had been arranged to be given on threeparticulars: (1) Any change in conditions since December; (2) evidence as to the proposed requirements of the Park avenue area; (3) evidence as to the peak-hour load.

There were no changed conditions, he said, since December. Regarding Park avenue traffic, he said that the Park avenue area, to use an expression of a member of the board, was a "half-and-half" district, and it was quite clear that the area could not, by any stretch of imagination, warrant six buses beiiig put on the road. Regarding the peak-hour load, his Honour referred to the evidence of the traffic inspector, whose statement was that the buses sran a very regular service, and that there had been no complaints about overcrowding.- The board, his Honour said, had considered existing and proposed facilities. One of the latter was the railway, which, it was understood, would be running very shortly. It would not affect tho Park avenue area, but would have an effect on the main loading. Park avenue, although a "half-and-half" area, was growing, and no doubt population would be attracted. The board considered that the existing bus proprietors must look on tho Park avenue extension as part of the whole service, and the board was of the opinion that the existing bus service was not altogether adequate. It was inclined to think that tho Upper Hntt service did hot run at altogether convenient times for the Park avenue people, who, it was thought, should have a sumewhat better service. Tho board did not suggest that the service should be more than an hourly one, but thought that it should bo so arranged so as"to give residents an opportunity of going in and out of Lower Hutt, and attending to business. The existing bus proprietors would have to remember that they hail a privilege, and the board desired to impress on them that they must not regard Park avenue as something outside tho general service. They must treat it as part of tho whole through service. Tho'board had allowed the appeal, but it was being allowed on the understanding that the existing bus properitors consulted with the local body—the Lower Hutt Borough Council •—to arrange a time-table reasonably fitted to the needs of Park avanuo residents. "If they do not do this," said his Honour, "and somebody puts in nnothbr application, there is no sayiiig how the board would act."

No cosls were allowed.