MOTOR-BUS CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 11

MOTOR-BUS CONTROL.

CHRIST CHURCH ATTITUDE. BOTH PARTIES REASONABLE. [BY TKLEGRAWI. —OWN COIUtESI'ONDE.N'T. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. A private* conference of the councils of the Chamber of Commerce and the Employers' Association was held to discuss the proposed motor-bus regulations. Mr. W. Machiii, as president of the Chamber of Commerce, presided. • » He stated afterwards that the conference was representative of both organisations and that there were present in addition members of the By-laws Committee of the City Council, who came to hear the discussion, but took no part in it. The conference heard the views of a delegation from the Motor Omnibus Proprietors' Association, and later »-■ deputation from 1 lie Christchurch Tramway Board. After a long meeting the following resolution was passed unanimously : "This joint meeting of the councils of the Chamber of Commerce and trhc Employers' Association, having heard representatives of both the Omnibus Proprietors' Association and tho Christchurch Tramway Board on the subject of the proposed omnibus regulations, is of the opinion that regulations are necessary which shall put privately-owned omnibus services on the same foot'ng as the existing publicly-owned tramway and bus services, and which shall place such pub-licly-owned services, services in which large sums of loan capital arc invested, interest and sinking funds on which are secured by the property of the ratepayers, at no disadvantage which will involve a tax on the ratepayers. We consider that some modifications of the proposed draft regulations are necessary, particularly as they apply to the constitution of the licensing authority, and that probably the objections to some of the regulations would disappear if .it could be assured that the licensing authorities and appeal boards would bo independent and impartial bodies," Mr. Machin stated that both deputations were reasonable in the attitude they took up concerning the proposed regulations, and that the omnibus proprietors finally stated that they wero agreeable to accept the proposed regulations with some little modifications, m» long as these regulations were to be administered by a licensing committee or board they could be certain would not be biassed. It was evident the Tramway Board was willing to meet the situation and deai fair]v with the bus proprietors, but naturally it was jealous of its responsibilities toward the public and ratepayers. He thought, there should he no difficulty in getting the tramway authorities and omnibus proprietors to agree concerning the regulations, and expressed the hope that the 0 "thcoming conference in Wellington would reach ait agreement on the subject of the institution of the licensing body and gppeal board.