MOTOR-BUS SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20897, 12 June 1931, Page 13

MOTOR-BUS SERVICES.

NEED OF PROTECTION. UNECONOMIC COMPETITION. EXTENSION OF ACT URGED. [TIY TELEGRAPH. —rRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON", Thursday. The increasing amount of uneconomic competition on (lie licensed routes of most omnibus companies and owners operating under the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister. Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day by a deputation from the New Zealand 'Motor Omnibus Proprietors' Association. The deputation consisted of Messrs. L. J. Keys and L. Alderton (Auckland), N. Bell, S. Crichton and C. L Bishop (Wellington), W. Stickings (Christchurch), G. S. Kirby (Punedin), and D. F. Smillie (Palmerston NortM Speaking for the association, Mr. Bell stressed the necessity for the immediate provision of adequate protection for these services in erder to place all motor passenger transport on an equal footing. Fivo years ago, be said, tho Motor Omnibus Traffic Act was passed, mainly for the purpose of protecting municipal tiamway undertakings from wasteful and uneconomic competition, and it definitely achieved that purpose, The motor omnibus concerns now considered thfit they could fairly claim similar protection from outside competition, which was threatening them on many of tho licensed routes. During the last five years they had been compelled, in order to obtain and continue their licences, to comply strictly with the Act in all its details and had been governed as to fares, time-tables, condition and construction of buses, insuring passengers and had been required to maintain an adequate service. It was the opinion of members of the association, continued Mr. Bell, that tho time had arrived when the interests of the public could best bo served by an extension of the Act so as to include all motorpassenger transport. It could not be urged too strongly that the proposed Transport Bill be brought before the House of Representatives at its next session, said Mr. Bell. That the matter was urgent was proved by the number of letters recently received from members of the association complaining of the increasing amount of interference on their licensed routes by vehicles not subject to any regulation. The Prime Minister assured the deputation that tho matters brought before him would receive due consideration. He hoped to bring down transport legislation early next session.