TOURIST SERVICES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4723, 23 July 1935, Page 5

TOURIST SERVICES

WAITOMO-CHATEAU LINK PROPOSED. APPLICATION FOR LICENSE. DECISION DEFERRED. Opposition by the Railway Department and the local operator, H. W. Bentley, was evinced when Webbs Motors, Ltd., of Chateau Tongariro, applied to the Transport Licensing Authority yesterday for a license for a new service to the Chateau to Waitomo Caves and return, to run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as and when required; on the grounds that the present railway services were insufficient and also that there was definite room for such a service, particularly as regards the tourist trade. The service would be a seasonal one.

Mr. L. N. Ritchie, of Raetihi, appeared for the applicant, Mr. E. M. Mackersey for Bentley (who held that his business of conveying passengers from the Waitomo Hostel would be seriously affected), and Mr. A. G. Grant for the Railway Department. Bentley holds a license for the Waitomo Caves-Hangatiki-Te Kuiti service feeding the trains from the Hostel. S

the 7.15 p.m. train, he contended, was a very convenient service, and saved tourists a day in getting to the Chateau. Mr. Ritchie contended that Webb would be a feeder and not in opposition to Bentley. Bentley: I.wish you could show me how! Mr. Ritchie: The interests of tourists over 100 miles should be jeopardised by a private interest over seven miles—that is your contention? Bentley stated that the railway fare was much cheaper and a reasonable service was provided by them.

Railway Department's Objections.

A. G. Grant, of the Railways Department, gave evidence regarding the railcar, which it was proposed to run from Auckland to Wellington on the time of the Daylight Limited. He was unable "to give a date as to it starting, though it would not be this summer. The Department was prepared to withdraw the objection to the through service between Waitomo and the Chateau this summer—the Department did not wish to interfere with tourist traffic The objection to the intermediate traffic was still maintained.

To questions from the Authority witness said that the withdrawal of the objection to the through service would be for this summer only; after that there was every probability of the Railways strenuously opposing Few Go From Caves to Chateau. I **•

Mr. Ritchie held that as Webb's service only ran when required, it was unlikely it would be used to any extent by intermediate traffic. Decision was reserved

William O'Connell, manager of the Waitomo Hostel, submitted a typewritten statement to the Authority. In answer to questions he stated that he had been instructed to put this in for the Tourist Department. Only a few tourists went to the Chateau Tongariro from Waitomo Caves. Except when the Daylight Limited was running the service was not convenient —passengers by train coming back to Waitomo Caves would arrive about 3 o'clock in the morning. N To Mr. Ritchie the witness said his Department belieyed a service such as the applicant's would be convenient to tourists. Mr. Ritchie then submitted a list of trains running between the Chateau and Waitomo Caves, and questioned witness as to their convenience. By the ordinary express, the most convenient train, passengers would arrive at the Chateau after midnight. Witness said the daylight return trip on the timetable proposed would obviously be more convenient to tourists.

To Mr. Mackersey witness said there were five times as many people at the Caves in the summer as in the winter—a local service such as Bentley's, necessary to the Hostel, could not carry on with the winter traffic alone. His Department was only supporting the application pending the provision of a more efficient service by the Railway Department.

Daylight Railcalr Service.

Mr. Grant said the Department had under consideration the running of a railcar from Auckland to Wellington on the time of the Daylight Limited which would provide a service between Waitomo and the National Park. The time taken would be 3 hours 7 .minutes. Witness said the people would "take this on" for the novelty, if nothing else. Mr. Grant: If this was put on the road service would not be necessary? Witness: Oh, no.

R.S.A.

Major Wilson: If the railway is going to run a railcar, it would be better for them if a service built up the traffic first.

• Mr. Ritchie: "This question of the railway car was not raised at the hearing in Wanganui—there was no mention of it. This is just the railways' way of combat —there can be no doubt about it."

Evidence of Applicant. Webb said he was running a service between the Chateau and National' Park station. To Mr. Mackersey he admitted if another operator obtained a license for this it would seriously interfere, with his business. Mr. Mackersey: And do you not realise that - if your " application is granted it would have the same effect on Bentley as another license-holder at the Chateau? Witness: No. Ours would be a feeder service. More passengers would be available, and as I would return to the Chateau straight after lunch Bentley would pick them up and carry them out. Webb said the idea of running the service originated because of meeting fed up passengers who had spent the day on the slow trains getting to the Chateau. Mr. Mackersey said the proposed fare for Waitomo-Te Kuiti was about half Bentley's. Webb stated that he had no wish to undercut Bentley—while his service would make no train connection as did Bentley's. When the railcar is running, are you going to continue your service? Witness: Yes—if I have to pioneer a service I am going to keep it going.

Effect on Bentley's Business.

H. W. Bentley said he had been on the Waitomo-Hangatiki-Te Kuiti run 23 years, and had owned the business for 7i years. Last year he bought Holden out as there was not sufficient business for the two —the Authority had advised co-ordination, but this was not fully satisfactory. He ran it at a .big loss during the winter, getting only five or six pessengers a week—he had over five times as many in the summer. s If Webb was granted his application, he would be greatly affected. Witness dealt'with all passengers to the Hostel, save that an operator, Robertson, ran right to the Hostel from Rotorua. Witness's two cars were sufficient to cope with the traffic. He would lose passengers for the 7.15 p.m. train who, having seen the Caves, might go in at 2 and spend the afternoon in Te Kuiti. If he had opposition in the summer, the good months of the year, Bentley said that he did not think he could carry on.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The usual monthly meeting of the Te Kuiti R.S.A. Executive was held in the Association's Rooms on Friday evening last. Mr. W. Rundle (President), presided over the following members: Messrs. A. C. Shearer (Deputy President), J. Thornton (secretary), A. Morris (Pio Pio), K. Walker (Pio Pio), R. Clever don, N. Cole, J. Dickson (Mokauiti), G.. Millar, W. Read, H. Higgins, W. Gray, F. Ongley, E. Kitto, J. Wilson, A. Flux (Past President). A communication was received from the Waitomo County Council advising that £1 for £1 subsidy up to £2O had been granted by that body for the assistance of ex-soldiers unemployed. Several families in need of clothing made application for same, and the secretary was instructed to deal with these. The balance' sheet of Pio Pio Subbra'nch showed a credit of £4 13s 2d. Of the seven applicants who recently appeared before the Pensions Appeal Board, five were successful. The Te Kuiti branch of the Women's Institute kindly donated the sum of £1 Is to the funds of the Association. Accounts amounting to £3 0s 6d were passed for payment. On July 5 a special meeting of the executive was held to receive the report from the Secretary, Mr. J. Thornton, of the business transacted at the Dominion Conference. Mr. Thornton was the delegate from the Te Kuiti Association to the above Conference, and he carried out the work delegated to him in a very creditable manner.

The quarterly meeting of the Association will probably be held the first week in August, and at this meeting the secretary will give full details of the Conference business to the members. .

Passengers might come, on a tour mapped out by the Tourist Department, as was usually done, from Rotorua by Robertson's Motors and then go away by Webb's Motors to the Chateau—while he was there as an ornament! He fed the trains, and