EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12614, 26 November 1926, Page 7

EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

PUBLIC MEETING SUPPORTS PROPOSAL TO TAKE OVER ’BUSES MAYOR REVIEWS FINANCES “A HARD AND TRYING PERIOD,” BUT HE SEES REASON FOR HOPE The Mayor of Eastbourne last night reviewed the administration and finances of the borough. His audience supported the proposal that the borough should purchase the ’buses at present operated by a private company.

Ratepayers of Eastbourne gathered at the Crown Theatre Rona Bay, last night to hear the Mayor, Mr H. M. Jones, discuss the proposal that the Eastbourne Borough Council purchase from a private company a fleet of mo-tor-’buses at present running between Eastbourne and Wellington. With the

exception of Councillor Holmes, who is in ill-health, all the councillors were present. Mr Jones said that during the last two years the council had done its best in all matters that had come before it. Any praise that was due to it was due to the council as a whole. It had been a hard and trying period. Before going into the ’bus question Mr Jones reviewed his work during the two years of his Mayoralty. He dealt with his administration under three heads, namely, the district fund, the ferry administration, and the ’bus proposals. DISTRICT FUND When he first entered upon his duties, said Mr Jones, there was a debit account of £I7OO in the district fund. During 1925-26 that amount had been reduced by £llOO. With regard to the district’s entrance into a new water scheme, the Mayor said he felt that Eastbourne could not take on a further liability. Two years ago storms did a good deal of harm in the district, and the position in the borough was acute. The case was put before the then Minister for Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates), and was promised, with the result that a subsidy-of £SOO was offered. During last year the Rona Bay tennis courts were bought with excellent results. So far as building in the distriot was concerned last year was one of the leanest on record, but this year had been most satisfactory. 'Building permits had now almost doubled, and with a good ’bus and boat service Eastbourne should become one of the finest seaside resorts in Australia and New Zealand. The borough loan charges, said Mr Jones, were not so high as most people thought. The annual charge for the interest on the borough account, exclusive of the sinking fund, was £272 10s. The sinking fund was £33, making a total of £305 10s, which entailed a rate of id in the £l. Mr Jones mentioned that it was hoped to have all the roads bitumenised in the near future. FERRY ADMINISTRATION ■file passenger revenue for 1924-25 was £21,392, while in 1926 it was £20,989, showing a difference of £403. The reasons for this loss were many. Tho Dunedin Exhibition, the Tamaliine’s excursions to the Sounds, had weather conditions, and ’bus competition were the principal factors. Over £c64 was lost in the first four days of this financial year. On March 31st, 1926, the credit balance in the trading account was £4Ol 18s 3d, as against a debit of £IOBO on tho corresponding date in 1925. For seven months of this year £1370 had been lost, compared with the corresponding period of last year. That showed a falling-off of 46,500 passengers. The expenditure for seven months last year in traffio was £15,361. This year there was a saving of £1519. This saving was made

as the result of careful work on tho part of the Ferry Board. The staff of the ferry boats had always done excellent work, but owing to the alarming expenses it was found necessary to dispense with some members. By this reduction of the staff the actual wages saved came to a considerable amount. “We are proud,” said the Mavor, “of the result of our efforts in connection with the ferry service.” Last year the administration cost £2072, as against £1667 two years ago. “You have got good value for your administration this year,” added Mr Jones. He gave the greatest praise to the administrative staff, who, he said, were underpaid. MOTOR 'BUS CONFERENCE Last January a conference of local bodies and all motor proprietors was called, and presided over by the Prime Minister. At that conference Eastbourne’s case came up for discussion. In April there came the regulations for ’buses which were held in abeyance until Parliament met. Meanwhile, the position became acute. Parliament, in September last, passed the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act. No person visualised the extent of the trade that was about to follow the ’bus service to Eastbourne. The council was not then fn tTRj position to purchase its own ’buses. He did not imagine that tho public would pay the prices charged by the ’buses. Some years ago the council bought ’buses, which were boycotted by the residents. Later the council investigated another avenue of meeting the competition, but it came to the conclusion that it would he insane to go on. It was found that a second company could not get a license, provided an adequate service was already being maintained. The council then decided to contest the issuing of a license to the present company, but this was found to be impossible. There was a vague possibility of the council being granted a license to run in competition with tie present company, WANTS CONTROL OF TRANSPORT The council had met the proprietors of the present service as it wanted the control of the road and of the transport. The amount of £7650 was agreed on as a fair price to buy out the company. This price was for the purchase of eight ’buses, one of which had not yet been delivered to the owners. The cost of the new ’bus would he £1350. On the motion of Mr Gilbert, seconded by Mr Wilson, the following resolution was carried, almost unanimously : “That this meeting of residents and ratepayers of Eastbourne considers that the action of the council in recommending the ’bus proposals to the ratepayers should be approved.” A number of questions were asked by Messrs Richards, Hogg, Guise, Fisher, Bowie and others. They were all answered in a manner satisfactory to those present. In* conclusion Mr Jones, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, stated ijhib- he felt sure that if the ’buses were purchased, there would soon be a great improvement in affairs, and that the ferry rate would soon be reduced.