LICENCE REVOKED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 6

LICENCE REVOKED

TITAHI BAY BUS SERVICE

TRANSFERRED TO RAILWAYS

A recommendation that the Railway! Department take over the Titahi BayWfillington passenger bus service, and grant the present operator of the service a reasonable amount of cpmperisation, was. made by the No. 2 Licensing Authority, which- sat at Wellington, recently. ■■.-■' ' • ■ : : ' The present licence for the service was reviewed under the provisions ol the Transport Licensing Amendment Act, 1936, section 8, sub-section 2. The evidence given at the hearing showed that a service between Titahi Bay and Wellington was necessary for the convenience-of residents of Titahi Bay and other places between Titahi Bay and Wellington; .that the present service was not conducted in a satisfactory manner for the following reasons: (a) Time-table could mot be depended upon;-.(b) vehicle was not k«pt in a clean condition; (c) passengers in a state of intoxication were taken aboard; (d) heated arguments had. occurred between ' these particular passengers; (c) the behaviour 6f at least one of the .drivers was at times objectionable. ' -• : "The licensee is endeavouring to* pro* vide with one vehicle a service which, commence!! at 6.45 a.m. and runs practically continuously throughout the day till midnight," states the; licensing authority in announcing its decision; "One of the Department's linspectors reported that observance; of'the tunetable operating since October;' 18ilhad been more satisfactory, but pointed out, that if any breakdown occurred it would be impossible to carry ipufc "the time-table, and in. his opinion; it was asking too much of one bus alone' to keep strictly to the, schedule. .It. is only fair to the licensee to point but here that in event of a.breakdown he ha* an arrangement with the Railway Department to hire'him a bus until his -own is repaired. The Railway Department also assists him at peak periods. ■•'•■/ ■-:* "Evidence as to the licensee's char* acter was satisfactory. "; ■.'•■'•' "It appears to the authority that thji licensee depended . too much on hit drivers in the conduct of-the service, and this is where he failed toi give that supervision necessary tothe satisfactory conduct of a passenger.service. In view of the evidence tendered at the hearing the authority, cannot - ; arrivfe at any. other decision/than that:the present licence should be1 revoked. Tha licence is therefore revoked as iront December 10, 1937. . "The authority is satisfied that a service is necessary . between Titahi Bay and Wellington, and is or.ppinion.'that this is a service that cpiild welj he undertaken by the Railway Department in .co-ordination with its' present road passenger, services.in the: locality' and with its train services; The authority, >therefore recomniends , that the Railway Department : take over this service and grant the present .licens,e<e a reasonable amount of compensation."