MOTOR SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 14

MOTOR SERVICES

IftORTH AUCKLAND ROUTES . I LICENCE APPLICATIONS COMPETITION AND FARES £by telegraph OWN correspondent] . "WHANGAREI, Tuesday A sitting of No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority was held to-day for the purpose of hearing evidence regarding the .'' granting of passenger service licences. When' application was made by the Northern Motor Bus Company, Limited, for.a renewal of its service to Russell Ml*. L. Johnson, for the company, said the' service, which at present was a daily one, was not paying owinc t-o the' small amount of traffic during winter months. Ho considered a service three days weekly during winter ani} daily during summer would bo sufficient for the traffic requirements. Mr. G. T. Wilson, for the Bail way Department, said that although this service was -not considered highly competitive to railways at present it was likely to become so when tho roads improved and the spending power of the people increased. Tho Railway Department maintained a good daily service and he considered that a motor service limited to at tho most four days weekly during the year would be in the interests of tho public. The railways had ample accommodation for any number of passengers.

Decision was reserved. Railway Department's Views An application was made by Mr. C. C. Gubb for a renewal of licenco for "the Warkworth-Kaipara Flats service. ' Mr. Wilson said- the service at present ran to the Kaipara Flats railway station, but did not make connection with any train. Mr. Gubb also ran a service from Warkworth to Auckland, and Mr. Wilson considered the service under review could be made a good feeder service for the train, which would commence on June 5, leaving Kaipara Flats at 8 a.m. for Auckland. He would also like to see the fare reduced from 3s single to 2s single. Mr. Gubb said he thought the connection with the train would be possible, but that any reduction in the fare would not be possible. A few years ago it was 5s each way. The service at present was really a rural mail service. The authority reserved decision. When the application of K. Erceg for renewal of a service between Whangarei and Tutukaka was bejng considered the chairman, Mr. W. Jones, said it did not seem to be doing too well financially. He asked was there too much illegal opposition, v Suggestion of Assistance

Mr. Erceg: Yes. Sometimes I have an empty car while trucks have full loads. However, it is difficult to catch them. , Mr. Jones: I think the board will be in a position to assist you next month when the truck licences come up for review.

Decision was reserved. J. S. Clark applied for a licence to carry passengers in conjunction with the conveyance of cream and other goods on the Marom&ku-Moerewa, via Kawakawa, route. He said there was no other ser'vice and only one section of the route ,-upon which he carried passengers. This "was on the 20tli day of the month when Maoris came into town for stores. He charged only Is 4d return for a trip of 10 miles and could not charge more as Maoris could not pay. He was; acting only for the convenience of Maoris. y *7 The chairman said this was the first of its kind the authority had met ,with and it was difficult to know what to do. If the application was only for cream carting it would be exempt. The revenue froni passengers was really practicallv negligible. Mr. Wilson, for the Railway Department, said that as a result of representations from settlers in the difitrict • the denartment put on a train service -from Maromaku, to Kawakawa on Saturdays. However, it was not paying and <rf the present application was granted and proved satisfactory it might suit the :Railway Department to discontinue the Saturday train to Kawakawa. Decision was reserved.