CITY BUS TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23201, 22 November 1938, Page 13

CITY BUS TOUR

THE EASTERN SUBURBS APPLICATION REFUSED NOT JUSTIFIED AT PRESENT .An application by L. J. Keys, Limited, for permission to operate a daily sight-seeing bus service to the eastern suburbs was rejected yesterday by the Auckland Transport Board, sitting as the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. It was held that any increase in the facilities for sight-seeing tours in Auckland was riot justified by tho traffic offering at the present time. It was stated that tho service proposed departure from the city at 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m., covering a distance of 25 miles. Mr. S. Keys said there had been a pronounced falling-off during tho past year in tho sale of tickets along the waterfront. This ho attributed to tho removal of the terminus from tho foot of Queen Street to the municipal transport station. For the sight-seeing service it was proposed to follow a route through Parnell, Newmarket, Green Lane, Eemuera, the upper parts of Orakei, Kohimarama, St. Heliers and Glendowie, returning along tho waterfront. Difficulties in making use of the fleet of buses and the staff of drivers during the hours of tho day when the traffic was light was stated to have increased recently owing to tho expansion of rush-hour traffic and the consequent increase in transport facilities to cope with tho position. The Auckland Bus Company, for which the manager, Mr. F. Withain, and its solicitor, Mr. H. Vialoux, appeared. objected to the granting of tho application. Mr. Vialoux mentioned how three sight-seeing services which had been operated in the city several years ago had been unified after numerous conferences, in which tho licensing authority was interested, had been held. The sole right to operate such a service was then vested in the Auckland Bus Company, which had paid £ISOO for the goodwill of the licence and had since incurred considerable expenditure in providing buses and developing tours. Mr. Vialoux said the proposed new service was neither necessary nor desirable in tho public interest. The Licensing Authority, over which tho Hon. F. E. Lark, M.L.C., deputychairman, presided, considered the application in committee and later announced its decision.