PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20618, 20 November 1941, Page 6

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

ASSOCIATION FORMED OFFICERS ELECTED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this clay. A new organisation, the Public Passenger Transport Association of New Zealand, was established at a conference of public transport authorities held in Wellington on Tuesday and yesterday. There were present: Messrs. J. Sayegh, W. H. Nagle, A. E. Ford and G. R. Gribble, Auckland; J. Darby and W. H. I-luggett, New Plymouth; W. J. Rogers. M.L.C., S. J. Harris and L. F. Row, Wanganui; H. Kitson and H. E. Jarman, Christchurch; M. Henderson and W. H. Mackenzie, Dunedin; and R. A. Wright, W. J. Gaudin, M. Cable and other officers of the Wellington , Corporation Tramways Department.

Mr. Sayegh was elected chairman. The following officers were elected for the ensuing 12 months: Chairman, Mr. J. Sayegh; deputy-chairman, Mr. A. E. Ford; executive, Messrs. W. H. Nagle, W. J. Rogers, and W. J. Gaudin; secretary, Mr. C. R. Gribble.

Matters discussed during the twoday conference were the effect of petrol restrictions on the public transport systems, the shortage of rolling stock in some centres, and the shortage of operating staff in others.

Information was forthcoming about the effect of staggering hours of work and amusement in large centres, commencing and finishing times for school, and consequent relief at peak loading hours. In this connection it was realised that each city had its own problems and would have to find its own solutions.

A matter which gave rise to considerable discussion was the standardisation of transport material, particularly in regard to the building of trolley and other buses, of which there are at present only a few in the Dominion. There was disclosed some divergence of practice in regard to tramway fares for members of the armed forces. Tied to that was the question of free passes to disabled soldiers and others suffering from disabilities. Other matters discussed were a more equitable apportionment of the petrol tax, the paj-’ment of rates on tramway tracks in those districts were the rating was not on the unimproved value, the variation in conditions governing taxi services, and the carriage of perambulators on tramcars.

It was decided that the next conference be held in Auckland.