NORTH SHORE BUSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21240, 21 July 1932, Page 13

NORTH SHORE BUSES

NO REDUCTION IN FARES BOROUGH COUNCIL'S COMPLAINT The scale of fares of the North Shore Transport Company, Limited, on the Devonport, Bayswater and Milford services was considered at a meeting of the No. 2 Licensing Authority yesterday. Mr. J. A. C. Allum presided.

Complaints had been received *by the boaud from the Takapujia Borough Council, and tWe Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, stated in evidence that it had_ been the object of the council for some time to try to get the scale of fares reduced. He said people in the district were handicapped because of the high fares, and some of them were leaving for this reason. There had been .a considerable falling off iu the number of passengers carried by the buses, and if the fares wero reduced this would be counteracted.

That the number of passengers had decreased was admitted by counsel for the North Shore Transport Company, but he contended that the rate charged could not be put down as the reason that people were leaving the district. "There are empty houses in every suburb," he said. He submitted a report from the company's auditors which stated that in view of difficulties experienced by the company the running expenses were certainly not excessive, and tho company was being economically managed. "We cannot see how any reduction of fares can be justified at present," the report stated. A depreciation of 8.58 per cent, on the original value of the buses had been made, whereas the recognised rate was 20 per cent. The fares charged compared favourably with those in force in three other services operating in Auckland. Mr. Allum stated, in giving the verdict of the authority, that it looked to the company to give relief. "We are not prepared to make any decision," he added, and the proposal for reduction was therefore declined.