HASTINGS-HAVELOCK 'BUS AND TAXI SERVICE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 132, 20 May 1932, Page 9

HASTINGS-HAVELOCK 'BUS AND TAXI SERVICE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —This is a perplexed question both for the public and the licensing authorities. Havelock residents have been very fortunate in having, for the last quarter of a century, an efficient ’bus service to and from Hastings, run to timetable, at a moderate price. No doubt with the growth of both places traific has increased and people living at a distance from the ’buses’ termini have found the new service of great convenience, but is there room for two companies to carry on successfully, and give satisfaction to the public? Is it advisable for th- authorities to allow a cut-throat policy to take place which is bound eventually to result in disaster to one or the other company, and do no good to the public? It is impossible for a service of light cars to cope with all the traffic, and not a fair thing that they should be allowed the pick of business and avoid the taxation on heavy vehicles, to say nothing of extra capital involved in plant sufficient to handle the business. Our schools require more .than a light service to convey pupils Io and fro at holiday time. I suggest for the convenience of those who have found the present light service useful, that there might be room for a taxi service to operate in Havelock only, meeting ’buses and carrying people to their homes, etc. —Yours etc., E. O. CLARKSON. Havelock North, 19/5/32.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —1 was more than shocked on my return home from a short holiday two days ago, to read of the Appeal Board’s decision in stopping the running of the Cosy Service cars between Hastings and Havelock North. The very thought of it makes me cold. I have a feeling that at any moment we may be told we will liave to go back to “candles” and the village “pump.” 1 can see clearly that we are going back to the days and nights—just prior to the Cosy’s starting—when we would run a mile or so to catch the ’bus, hide our old shoes in the church fence to use coming home, rush out of the pictures before they were finished, only to receive a strap-hang position in the ’bus with somebody’s elbow in your chest, and probably some of your family waiting at the end of the journey for you with umbrellas etc. if the night was wet. Is that “advance,” 1 ask you?

Havelock is becoming a very big and popular place, and for about 2| years the Cosy cars have been running a very quick car sei vice in opposition to the buses at a very reasonable profit I understand. They extended the usual bus route, with no extra charge • they earned prams free of charge, winch was a boon to mothers with young children, while Nimon’s charged sixpence. We simply cannot do without this Cosy service. It will retard Havelock s progress, and it was not as though they were running against the lA.Z.K.—they were assisting them His Honour, in his remarks, cails it unnecessary competition. He is only one man, and if ho lived here would soon learn it was very necessary competition. What would anything be if it was not for competition? Imagine if hnwL" aS n one baker, and one butcher allowed in Hastings?. Can something not be done yet to keep the Cosy going?—Yours etc., FARMERETTE. Havelock North, 19/5/32.

(To the Editor.) sir, I wish to endorse the practical sentiments of J. S. Hannah in regard to the pioposed suspension of such a well-conducted and efficient service as rendered by the Cosy cars. k indeed, with grave concern that the residents of Havelock and also many of Hastings learn that they are to’’ be depnved of a taxi service within the kom S H a a t lL Not a “ tellers to and horn Hastings reside between Simla Avenue and the village and finding ordinary taxi fares absolutely beyond their means, these people, until the Cosy Servin <a me to their assistance were obliged to walk to their homes’ loaded up with parcels, from a quartet ? wo mi fe or more, often uphill all on lhelr P 1 wa ’ even worse «et days. I refer particularly to women shoppers who have to take little p h Idren w.th them. These and all others who are suffering from the recent wage cuts find the Cosy Service invaluabfe as while this economic pressure lasts economy- has tc be

practised in every possible way. Another boon to the passengers is the very comfortable waiting room complete with magazines and other reading matter, and a most welcome heater—at least welcome to those who have sampled waiting forty minutes for a ’bus, i.e., from 5.50 p.tn. to 6.30 p.m., on a cold wet winter night I In this matter I am speaking from experience. The Cosy Service is a necessity, not a luxury.—Yours etc., H.T.Y. Havelock North, 19/5, 32.