BLACKBALL BUS

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1942, Page 3

BLACKBALL BUS

(To the Editor) Sir,-—Since my previous letter to you I have travelled extensively throughout New Zealand by road and rail, but as before, I cannot resist the temptation of again voicing mv disapproval of the road service operating between Blackball and Greymouth. After travelling from Westport to Greymouth by a real service car, and stepping from that vehicle into a Road Service bus, I can only describe it as a case of from “the sublime to the ridiculous.” The first regrettable thing that I noticed was that the friendly drive'r < of .mv previous trip had been replaced. Why I am still at a loss to know, but anyway, if he is still alive, I wish him well. As on the last trip, the driver collected by five shillings, but this time the ticket was not accompanied with the West Coast smile of old! It was a Friday night and by the time I gained admission to the bus, or was I told once it was “The Clipper”—it was well filled with six or eight standing passengers, but the driver still insisted that there was “room for all,” and just to prove it, pushed his cap back and asked the passengers “to move back if they pleased.” After five minutes or so of standing up, and being stood pn, we pulled away, and this t’m e I made it my business to count the passengers who numbered 31 sitting and 21 standing, also three or more children being nursed. Having a fair idea of the condition of this bus. from my previous experience, Jwas all eyes, and as the soldiers say “stood by for action.” The first real thrill was about three miles ou when we were to stop near a b ricl S® at the foot of a hill, as almost oi the bridge the headlights, for n apparent reason, went out, ana suo ed out until we got S omK _„ f po'”’ This stop at least gave my cora some respite, as three ( broke away from the s £ lU p rirn f or t ' I .was able to stand up m comfoit It was a relief to sit d °Ja „f Bti’!seat near me was vacat ed ‘ * f XT t b o Ut sleep e , re as W the?e 0 werf morerattles playing around my than can be * Gard From closer observations it was ap IXI thal a pane we n,a lhe oam Now, Sir, do not think < am flone in mv view on this bus. as ffifferent. people have complained About it in my hearing: m fact J heard one man )Say that ' from “101” that the idea of the “Semple tank” was gleaned! In concision I would like to stress the veii great danger that is created bv ’the overcrowding on the buses When fiflv lives are at stake it is time these things were attended to, /ven ahead of white lines and over--I:Md AGAIN . Christchurch, May 29.