BUS SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23721, 30 July 1940, Page 9

BUS SERVICES

FURTHER REVIEW REDUCING PETROL USAGE METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY The Metropolitan Licensing Authority yesterday discussed tlie cancellation of ;i number of transport licences for sightseeing, contract and race-day trips in accordance with the request of the Minister of Transport, the Hon. 11. Semple. The Minister's request was based on the necessity for making every effort to reduce petrol consumption and will affect four licences issued bv the metropolitan authority.

The operators concerned, the Auckland Transport Board, L. J. Keys, Limited, Suburban Buses, Limited, and the Auckland Bus Company, Limited, were represented by Mr. H. Yialoux. Waitakere Ranges Trip

The licence held by the Auckland Bus Company for sight-seeing trips was the lirst to come under review. Mr. Yialoux said an attempt had already been made by the company to reduce consumption by cutting out the Waitakere Ranges trip run at 10 a.m. There would be no need to cancel the licence if the company were permitted to cancel the trip in the event of a sufficient number of passengers not being available. Furthermore, it seemed that the Government was still advertising the trips abroad and there was always a rush when the American vessels were at Auckland. The Matter ol Contracts On the motion of the chairman, Mr. W. H. Nagle, the matter was deferred until the company's application for a renewal of the licence comes before the authority after August 31. In the matter of contracts, in which the four oj>erators were concerned, Mr. Yialoux pointed out that the question had come before the .\oi 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan, who haa reserved his decision. It was decided to follow the lead given, and ask operators for a full return each month of the number of miles travelled, number of passengers and petrol consumption. It was mentioned on behalf of football trips that they were undertaken by teams whose fitness might later be an asset to the military authorities. Feeder Services to Race Trams It was urged by the engineer and manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, when the Auckland Transport Board's licence to run feeder services to race trams was being reviewed, that the saving on the amount -of petrol private cars would use was considerable. The bus trips from Avondale and Point Chevalier to the tram terminus for Kllerslie, Epsom and Avondale meetings consumed onlv 261 gallons a year, whereas he estimated that private cars would use over 330 gallons. Mr. J. A. S. Keys, for L. J. Keys, Limited, adopted similar arguments, and pointed out that the greater part of his company's fleet was Dieselengined and did not draw on the petrol stocks. It was decided to take no action.