R.M. Delivery On Side Road Wanted

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1939, Page 4

R.M. Delivery On Side Road Wanted

Representations from a group of settlers on Tremaine’s Road, Ruatangata, for an addition to the passenger license held by D. C. Copeland, on the Whangarei-Pipiwai route, were presented to Mr E. J. Phelan, Transport Licensing Authority, at Whangarei yesterday. Mr E. S. Tremaine and others (represented by Mr D. L. Rossi stated that the settlers had previously been served by a post office on the road itself. To assist in the introduction of the i'ural mail delivery the set-

tlers had agreed to abandon this facility, on the understanding that they would be given a daily service 'at their doors. Service Withdrawn.

When the rural main contract was renewed on January 1, the service on this and two other roads had been discontinued, and the settlers had either to travel half a mile to boxes on the main road or make other arrangements for their mail. “If farmers are to be kept on the the land, sei’vices to them should be extended, and mail delivered to their door, as in the cities,” s'aid Mr Tremaine in giving evidence.

Because of the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the post office, the settlers on Tre-

maine’s Road had a special claim for restoration of the service promised them, witness contended. If all side roads were to be .given a road-gate delivery, the running times for service Oars would be prolonged out of reason, said Mr L. E. Ginn, transport officer, who had investigated the matter. The granting of the present concession would lead to many similar requests. More People Would Suffer.

Tremaine’s Road w'as only 12 miles from Whangarei, and to make the detour requested, would inconvenience the great majority of patrons further out on the Simile run, said Mr Copeland. Carriage of mails, particularly on side roads, was the main bugbear of the passenger service. Slowness of service car travel so caused resulted in many people accepting lifts in private vehicles. (Schoolchildren, darried in, the bu's did not get home until 6 p.m. as it was.

For the operator, Mr L. T. Pickmere called Mr J. A. Finlayson, who said that settlers of Tremaine’s Road had not given up their claims for the post office to please any but themselves. A petition had been circulated opposing the mail bus running down side roads. Decision was reserved.