SERVICE TO PAPAROA

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1935, Page 6

SERVICE TO PAPAROA

APPLICATION AGAIN ADJOURNED

MORE CO-ORDINATION NEEDED.

BETWEEN RAIL AND ROAD TRAFFIC. The Northern Publishing Company's application for a daily service between Whangarei and Paparoa was again heard by the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority at Paparoa yesterday. TJie manager of the company applied to have the application amended for the service to leave Paparoa in the morning and Whangarei in the afternoon, the route being via Maungakaramea, Tauraroa, Moewhare, Taipuha and Mareretu. This would, it was stated, enable people to travel to Whangarei with the service, spend about four hours in Whangarei and return in the afternoon, leaving Whangarei about 2 o’clock. The amendment was accepted by the 4 authority.

Mrs Thompson, ■ of Moewhare, and Messrs W. H. Gillingham, Maungakaramea, Paterson, Tauraroa, Lovich, Moewhai’e, Monk, Taipuha, Tibbits and Sutherland, of Paparoa, all spoke in favour of the application, and pointed out the benefit it would De to the settlers on route. The Whangarei £hhmber f ''of Commerce supported the application by letter, and other residents of Paparoa were present to speak, if called upon, in favour of the service.

The granting of the license was opposed by Messrs Sterling Forster, E. T. Birtles and the Dargaville-Paparoa service owner.

The manager of the Publishing Company suggested that if the Railway Department, the Postal Department and the Dargaville service car owners were to co-ordinate their services at Paparoa or Mareretu or Taipuha, many of the transport and postal difficulties affecting Paparoa and Matakohe would disappear. Owing to the fact that the trains and service car did not meet at the same station, at the same time, mails from Whangarei for Paparoa and Matakohe went to Auckland and returned next day, while passengers from Whangarei for those districts alighted at Paparoa and had to walk or hire a taxi to take them to their destination. That would all be obviated by the co-ordinating .of the Dargaville service car with the trains at the crossing station.

The manager suggested further that if the express did not depart from Auckland until after the arrival of the Limited express from Wellington, and if the North express were speeded up, co-ordination could take place at Paparoa.

Mr Craig, representing the Railway Department, said that there were many difficulties in the way and all sections of the community, right up to the Far North had to be considered.

The application was deferred to Whangarei, where further evidence will be taken on July 29.