NO ADDITIONAL CARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 13

NO ADDITIONAL CARS

A MOTOR TRANSPORT SERVICE While Newman Bros. (N.IO, Ltd., were refused permission to increase their fleet in the. Wellington-Napier, Napier-Palmerstdn North services by the New Zealand Transport Licensing Authority yesterday, the renewal of their licence for these two services was granted, with permission to increase the seating accommodation slightly. Mr. H. J. Knight, who appeared for the applicants, said that the only varia-, tion sought was the addition of two cars to be interchangeable'with the five cars now running on both services, which 1 were conducted as one concern. The cars now on the runfc were in constant use, leaving no spares in the event' of breakdowns. Evidence was given by J. Newman, managing director, to show that,other services did not provide an adequate time-table to save passengers delays in the event of the company's services being unable to qarry them'. : • j On behalf of the. Kailway Department; Mi 1 . F. K". Mackay-opposed'any increase in the number of vehicles. It was contended that it was Seldom necessary throughout the year .to increase' the fleet, and that on those' occasions where it was necessary,' machinery existed for putting an r additional vehicle on the: road: With .Newman Bros.' fleet and the existing-, trains there was' ample service. ■ ■- The railways ran a similar road service to Wanganui, but would prefer to increase the size of the'vehicles to .putting on additional .buses, and would- have no objection to NeWman Bros, taking, this, course in their Napier services. The need for an increase in the number of buses was - stressed by Mr. Knight. The'motor time-tables' were complementary to' the rail time-tables., and not competitive, but surplus passengers, unless other buses, were put on, would be' left behind, It would not be possible to get temporary licences at a few moments' notice. There was an obligation, on the holder. ,of the licence to fulfil the needs of the service. In Newman Bros.' licence there was' provision for handling people from services connecting with theirs, and this made : occasional unexpected demands. ' , '..;./'■ ".I .'.;■"■ Mr. P. Skoglund, the. Authority, said that if the application: were agreed to in' itfc"present 'fb.nri, the; request..?: for, additional ears would tend to become-: a recurring one. ; , '"-, ,

The greater ,opportunity given, to the people to travel on the road, the more advantage would be taken of it:. The knowledge that extra vehicles were available tpnded, in his opinion, to make people careless of the train services. They felt that they could obtain two or three hours more, at home before leaving. For that, reason he. was not justified in increas-

ing the number of cars. The applicants might,.however, take advantage of the Railways' offer to increase the seating capacity of- their cars.''' : The two new cars, might .■■; be' but they must be held in reserve, and be used only in substitution of the existing'cars. Arrangements had 'recently been; made with - postmasters at certain centres, of which Palmerstoh North and Napier were examples,; for the issue pf temporary licences, which could easily- be obtained in Wellington. If the two 12-seaters were only to take'the place of, any of the! 10-seaters ;now rufining> the application ;was granted.