WASTE ALLEGED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 77, 27 September 1941, Page 11

WASTE ALLEGED

GOVERNMENT BUSES

EXAMPLES IN SOUTH

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 26.

Waste of petrol by Government buses on regular routes and on special trips duplicating routes provided with reasonable express railway service was alleged by Automobile Association representatives at the annual meeting of the South Island Motor Union. Discussion arose in consideration of a remit from the Automobile Association (Otago).

Other associations besides Otago had evidence of what was going on, said Mr. P. F. Harre (Otago). He gave some examples, all observed on one day recently, of a bus from Timaru being seen at Chertsey going south with no passengers; of a bus six miles south of Timaru bearing the destination "Temuka" but going south, again with no passengers; two buses bound from Timaru to Oamaru carrying a total of eight passengers; and also of three buses bound from Oamaru to Dunedin with a total of 18 passengers in all three.

Mr. G.. W. Ferens (Otago) said accusations of political bias had been made. They were giving the Government "the low-down" on the feeling of the average commercial man. They were in favour of petrol rationing and satisfied of its necessity. What they were against was inequality of sacrifice.

Mr. R. P. Furness (Marlborough) said his own experience coming from Blenheim was informative. Two private buses coming all the way through to Christchurch were full. The Government's own bus, going only to Hundalee railway terminal, was almost empty.

The remit as amended was: "That in the interests of petrol economy the use of Government vehicles for special trips to places already served'by existing railway and bus services be prohibited while petrol rationing is necessary and that in cases where Govern-ment-owned vehicles are operating alongside railway lines where express trains offer reasonable and comfortable service, such road services be discon-

tinued."