MOTOR BUS COMPETITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19550, 5 August 1925, Page 2

MOTOR BUS COMPETITION

A WELLINGTON GRIEVANCE UNPLEASANT POSSIBILITIES. LEGISLATION URGED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 4. A deputation representing local authorities interested in tramway undertakings waited on the Prime Minister and asked that legislation be passed to place motor buses on an equal footing with tramway concerns. Stress was laid on the need for the regulation of bus traffic in the interests of personal safety. While a monopoly of street traffic was not sought for the. trams, it was urged that they were entitled to protection against unfair competition in view of the amount of the people’s money invested in them. The deputation cited legislation passed in Victoria as .applicable to the conditions in New Zealand. Mr Coates in the course of his reply referred to the amount involved in tramway loans, and said that he realised that the ratepayers were loaded with that amount, and that if the tramways were threatened, one of two things was going to liappen—either the ratepayers would have to pay out of annual loan*, or the rates would* be forced up to such an extent that land would not be economical, to hold. H© would require definite information as to how the tramway authorities were affected before he did anything. He wished to see if it were not possible to co-ordinate the services of the buses and trams, so that they might work together economically for the convenience of the general public. Surely that could be easily ascertained. What proposals, too, had tramway undertakings for extension of tram routes, and were those extensions the most economical method of meeting the needs of transport. Mr Coates also referred to the question of framing regulations governing the typo of vehicle and the fitness of the vehicle to ensure the safety of passengers. It seems to him that there should be some system of regulations in the cities. Most serious accidents had happened to big motor buses which were running in the cities, carrying 20 or 30 people, and big risks were run. “I want you to ask your engineers to meet the departmental officers” said Mr Coates. “Get down to tin tacks and see how far you can satisfy the department that something reasonable is required.” Mr D.’G. Sullivan (Christchurch) : Wo take it that on general principle you are favourable to fair competition being allowed. Mr Coates assented and said that there waa no doubt tliat there was room for thorough investigation. He could see that municipal tramways were threatened with serious losses. He did not know whether it would be possible to draft a Bill this session which would be the nucleus for control. He hoped the matter would bo easily straightened out when they got facts and figures. He realised that the trouble particularly affected Auckland, but he noticed that it was gradually coming further south. In conclusion, Mr Coates said ho did not know whether the Victorian system would suit New Zealand.