MOTOR SERVICE ROUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 11

MOTOR SERVICE ROUTE

EXTENSION GRANTED NORTHERN HOKIANGA AREA NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT [rt telegraph—OWN correspondent] KAIKOHE, Thursday An application for an extended passenger service that has created considerable interest in the northern Hokinnga and surrounding districts was heard at a sitting of the No. J Transport Licensing Authority at Kaikohe to-day. The application was made by E. A. Gray to extend the scope of his Herekino-Mangamuka Bridge service to Rangiahua, where it could connect with his Jlorcke-Otiria service. Last December the licensing authority granted a temporary licence to Mr. Gray to operate a service from Herekino to Rangiahua and a continuous licence over the route was granted last April. Subsequently the board curtailed the service by stopping it at Mangamuka Bridge, where passengers had to transfer to the Kaitaia-Otiria service car. Grounds of Application Under the amended transport regulations of this year Mr. Gray applied to the Licensing Authority for a rehearing of his application to run from Herckino to Rangiahua on the grounds that the present arrangement terminating his run at Mangamuka Bridge was inconvenient to the travelling public and increased the fare by 6s. In addition, if he could not co-ordinate his Herekino and Horeke services the Herekino run would probably have to be abandoned as unpayable and so leave a large and growing district without adequate passenger transport facilities. The application was opposed by Sir. .T. T. Taaffe, who operaj.es the KaitaiaOtiria run. Evidence in support, of the application was given by Mr. W r . Grounds, chairman of the Hokianga Dairy Company, who stated that the district served by Mr. Gray's service was a rapidly developing one. Jt had a population of 3000, with 55 miles of feeder roads converging on the main service road. Mr. Grounds said the district's needs warranted a separate service as originally granted. He considered the transport authority was more competent to judge the district's requirements than the Transport Appeal Board. The application was also supported by Mr. W. S. Vickers, chairman of tho Mangonui County Council, Mr. R. B. llussell, Hokianga county manager, Mr. M. G. Mulcahy, riding member on tho Hokianga Council, and Mr. P. G. Mackenzie, a prominent settler in tho district. Petition from Residents A largely signed petition from residents of northern Hokianga in favour of granting the application was also put in. T. Malloy, a driver employed by the applicant, stated that the present arrangements were not working very satisfactorily. The increased fare entailed by spreading the run over two services was affecting the number of passengers travelling. The service had proved a great convenience to settlers along the route in the way of getting parcels and newspapers left at their gates. If the service was stopped at Mangamuka Bridge many of the advantages would be lost. In support of his application Mr. Gray, for whom Mr. H. F. Guy appeared, stated that if his service continued to be limited to Mangamuka Bridge it would become unpayable and would probably have to be discontinued, as it was only by allowing the service to run to Rangiahua in order to coordinate with his Horcke-Otiria service that it could be maintained on a payable basis. Discontinuance of the service would deprive a large and rapidly growing district of adequate passenger transport facilities. In opposition to the application Mr. J. B. Reynolds, who appeared for Mr. Taaffe, contended that no fresh evidence of a material nature had been adduced that would justify the authority in reversing the Appeal Board's decision. Mr. Taaffe stated he was always willing to co-operate with Mr. Gray in order to make the present arrangements satisfactory to all parties and was also willing to provide suitable arrangements at Mangamuka Bridge for passengers awaiting transfer to his cars to continue their journey. Tho authority after a retirement, gave its decision granting the application.