FEEDER BUSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21454, 30 March 1933, Page 11

FEEDER BUSES

TRANSPORT BOARD'S LOSS PRIVATE CONTROL POSSIBLE NO ALTERATION, IN FARES A change in the control of tho tram' way feeder motor-bus .services from th< il Transport Board to private operators is 1 possible, according to a statement madt i. by the chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, J yesterday. " The board has considered the ques jr tion of feeder buses and has decided thai y if any operators will take over and rur s the services maintained by the board al present at the same fares and under the same conditions as the board is operats ing, we will favourably consider handing over the whole service to private enterprise," said Mr. Allum. j The board would not consider allowing portions of the service to pass from its control while it was left to conduct the remainder. " There will be no picking and choosing," he stated. " The board desires to see people in the districts affected given the same service at a cost they can bear. For this reason, the present conditions and fares must continue." 5 TJie whole question of feeder buses, which at present run to Blockhouse Bay, 1 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Waterview, Waikowhai, Point Resolution and Shore Road, Remuera, has been fully considered by a special committee of the board, while figures covering the running costs of the buses have been prepared by the manager, Mr. A. E. Ford. These figures showed that on the present year's working the buses will have operated at n loss of £IB,IOO. Operating expenses amounted to £17,900 and capital charges to £B6OO, a total of £26,500. Receipts were shown at £B4OO. The manager's report stated that although there had been increases in taxation and the price of petrol, there had been no corresponding rise in fares. The recent increase in the price of petrol and the new tax imposed on power benzine would increase the annual cost of tiie bus services by about £1270. The estimated value of fares qprried to and from tramcars by feeder bus services was £5866, which was not credited to the bus account. Any rise in fares or reduction in service would adversely affect this sum. If the board dispensed with its bus services, capital charges totalling £5922 would still have to be met. " Although the bus services are part of the board's tramway undertaking, they are expensive to operate," continued the manager. " It is doubtful whether a private operator could be found to agree to carry on the Blockhouse Bay, Rosebark Road, Waterview or Waikowhai services at anything approaching the present fares without being assisted by the board. If the board decides to relinquish the remaining two routes, Point Resolution and Shore Road, it is extremely doubtful whether an operator would continue the services without wishing to raise the fares or without getting further revenue by securing passengers from parallel tramway services. These remarks apply particularly to the Shore Road service."