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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32904, 3 September 1947, Page 5

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BUS FROM KEREPEEHI APPLICATION FOR LICENCE SERVICE TO THAMES An application for a Torehape-Kerepeehi-Thames passenger bus service from P. G. and H. P. Watene was declined by the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr E. J. Phelan, at a sitting held in Thames recently. Mr P. Jensen, appearing for the applicants, said there was no passenger service from that district to Thames at present. He presented a petition in support of the application. R. T. Hodson, supported by the Rehabilitation Department, opposed the application. H. P. Watene said he had been requested by residents to start the service. He said he contemplated five trips a week, including one on Friday nights. Cross-examined, Watene said he was not aware that there was any licensed Friday night passenger service from the district to Ngatea. He said he did not propose to use the Ngatea route. He did not know, he said, how many people in his area owned their own cars. The strength of the run would be from Kerepeehi to Thames. Watene said that his partner, P. G. Watene, was an exserviceman. It was put to Watene that he had not considered the financial back-

ground of his proposal, and that his service would not suppoi*t two men. To the Authority, Watene said he had been farming family property since before the war. Will It Pay? “ Can you show me you can raise the money ■ needed ? ” asked the Authority. Watene detailed his financial. position. “ This man is quite unprepared and has no idea of Costs,” said Mr Phelan. “ His revenue would not pay for his benzine. I believe he could not put the service on and could not make it pay if he did.” “ The only investment is a vehicle,” said Mr Jensen. ‘‘ If the business does not pay, the vehicle remains, less depreciation.” Mr Jensen called witnesses, residents of the district it was proposed to serve. S. H. Anderson said Hodson’s service to Ngatea was not sufficient for the district, and a bus to Thames was necessary. “ If it will please you or anyone else,” said the Authority, to a witness, “ I’ll admit the people there need a service, but will it pay? Hodson is the man who should be made to do the whole job. I am not prepared to grant a licence until the financial position of the applicant and his ability to make a service pay are approved. lam of the opinion that the applicant is not suitable, and Mr Hodson should cater for the people better than he is doing.”