SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 12

SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

'Bules in western areas

BODIES' DISCUSSION. 1 •

REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD

A conference of delegates representing local bodies interested in transport to xhe western suburbs, was held at New .Lynn last evening, Mr. W. L. Tilehener, chairman of the New Lynn Town Board, presiding. Delegates present were Mr. AV. L. Leighton, chairman of (he Henderson Town Board, Mr. W. .E. Martin, chairman of tlie Glen Eden Town Board, Messrs. J- Baton and H. Moor, representing the residents of Te Atatu, and Mr. A. M. 'Laing, chairman of Ihe Waitemata •County Council, representing the Titirnngi Biding. Mr. Tilehener said the Transport Board bad come to a vital decision regarding transport to the western suburbs. Although no oflicial intimation had been received, it was quite clear that from March 31 next the Transport Board intended to cease running its buses through Js'ew Lynn, Glen Eden and Henderson.

It had been reported that from that date the board prepared to hand over its service to private enterprise. It appeared to him that influences were being used to keep the buses off the road, but tho local bodies concerned could not ■idlow tho buses to be taken off. Mr. Tilehener criticised the Transport Board's offer to. private enterprise, stating it was ridiculous to suggest private enterprise should bo allowed to operate only between Henderson and tho \Vhau t'reek at Avon dale. The district concerned desired to have buses running Sight through to the city. Question of Paying Service.

The tramways management had stated "buses did not pay, but that was only propaganda to bolster up the tramways. The position was that tho Transport Board had only £20.000 invested in buses c>n the western route, and to state that ■with only that amount of capital invested and a population of 12,000 to work on, tho bus service was not paying, was, to Lis mind, absurd.

*,ln further criticising statements made by the tramways management, Mr. jfitchener said that regarding the Point Chevalier service it had been definitely 'slated there were 15 buses on that route. iTo his certain knowledge, with the exception of the peak periods, there were ijnlv three buses on the road. It would cost £IOO.OOO to lay tram tracks to jfoint Chevalier, plus £20.000 for rolling stock, but 10 buses would give a much jjietter service.

% Regarding the proposed private enterprise scheme, as affecting the outer "Suburbs,. the position was that half a jjflozen young men who were running isolated buses in various localities, wero jjircparing to run together to make up a service, but the large bus concerns wero folding aloof. '/£ "Crippling The District." %Mr. Leighton said he considered that if fgeu transport board would allow buses to rtfn' from Henderson to Surrey Crescent, they could be made to pay. If the western district bad to wait for adequate transport facilities until the contemplated jyjilway alterations. were completed, tho would be full of empty houses. "-$Mr. Leighton added he had, that day, dp behalf of the Henderson town Board, wired to Mr. 11. G. R. Mason, M.l seating tho proposal of the Transport Bo&rd would cripple the district. It bulked to him as if the Transport Board -waS. still carrying out the policy of the City Council, and was doing everything ?in its power to make tho public believe Ihc* buses were not paying, and that only 'the trams were. If they were not paying there was something wrong with the management. Ho instanced waste of time at the Henderson terminus, one bus always remaining on the stand until another arJ rived, whereas under the old G.O.C. manevery bus was running all tho 'time.

;Mr. Martin said they should concentrate ion-doing everything possible to keep the |lniscs on the road. Ho considered prcs|sure should be brought to bear to keep , the Avondale and Waterview traffic for '•"th6 buses. At the sarno time, it was ad-•-vieable to remember the proposed railway Extension to Morningside was still a possibility to be reckoned with. Representation on Board.

'Mr. Moor said it was useless to think ~<of supporting small men who were con2*teniplating putting buses on the road when £;tbc Transport Board gave up. He agreed ho trams should be protected by the imIposition of penal fares when buses were •running on tram routes, but the buses 'should be given a free run beyond the 'train area. Dealing with remarks made at a meeting of the Transport Board recently, to the effect that no provision was made to give the outer suburbs representation, Mr. ■ Titcnener Raid his reading or' the Act showed that not. only could the area of the board's operations be enlarged, but members of the board could be iltot the first duty of the combined disBtn'cts was to seek admission to. the Trans2J>pr{ Board's area, and representation sshould be made to that effect.

•:31r. Leighton said all the districts represented had contributed to the cost of the concrete highway, but the Transport Board appeared determined to prevent s'tfrern from making the fullest use of the highway. cMr. Titchener moved that each delegate sjsDUld recommend his board to seek combined inclusion in the Transport Board's area. This*was seconded by Air. Leighton carried unanimously. It was finally decided that if each board concerned was favourable a further meeting should bej called for next Friday week, when a definite proposal should" he sent to the Minister of I'ubilc Works, asking him to exercise his oower and cause the inclusions to be gazetted.

PROGRAMME OF THE BOARD. AITLICATION FROM OWNERS. '-Several- applications will he made by private omnibus owners desirous of conducting ilie western services lietween the city ;»nd New Lynn, (lien Eden and Henderson, accord.'ng to llie expeclatimi of Mr. •T t .\. Allum, cliainnan of (JlO Auckland 1 ran,sport Board. The hoard lias de cided to cease its services to those centres as from March 31.

-■Mr. A Hum./said yesterday ho did not foresee any difficulty in allowing the services. to run through lo tho ciiv, and, provided the board's interests wcin safe' guarded, lie did nob consider the mmosilion of a penal fare necessary. The ser vices, of course, would not be allowed "to set down passengers in the transport dhtvjrt or. the outward journey, nor pick m> lingers in the transport district oil the inward journey. '

At a, meeting this afternoon the hoard's man, business will be to confirm or otherwise the decisions reached in committee fo l v-hi i renC " ,<J tran , s P olt development, lot which a loan poll is shortly to be taken. In addition several applications for licences foi new services will be con. sictcred Ibo board will mce t again in committee to-morrow evening, when the fiducial aspect of the loan programme ,vSII havo speaal. attention.