AARD MOTOR SERVICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 10

AARD MOTOR SERVICE.

AMALGAMATION WITH DUCO

SERVICE

Tlie well-known Anrd Motor Service Company have decided to amalgamate with the local “Duco” Service and make the offices of the latter their agency in Gisborne.

The Aard service was started in Napier six years ago with one Ford car. In the third year the service grew to 3D cars, in the fourth to 200, in the fifth to 500, and in the sixth to 7CO. The seventh year sees the South Island coming in, and with the business of the standing “Rink” taxis in Christchurch (with a. fleet of 50 cars), should soon swell the organisation to the 1000 mark. Among the most important undertakings that the Aard service has handled was the transporting of the Prince of Wales during his visit to New Zealand, and of Rata pa, and 1 his party from Napier right through the East Coast district to Rotorua. The railway strike during the Prince’s visit saw the Aard service entrusted with the task of conveying the Trime Minister from -Rotorua, to Wellington, and the breaking up of the recent strike was greatly due to the wonderful Aard combination, as many 'local people will recall, the service having enabled them to travel about any part of the North Island,. An Aard car recently drove through from Napier to Auckland, although no cars had been through, for many months. A special featui’e of the Aard service is their excellent roadl map of the North Island, and' travellers have found it invaluable on their journeys. "A new publication of this map on a larger sheetwill show all the elevations of the main roads of the North Island, which should prove a great, advertisement for the 'Gisborne district, as the Napier-Gisborne and Gisborne-Rotorua roads will be fullyshown, and will no doubt attract many tourists through this way. Following the example of other towns, a little pocket guide ‘on the Gisborne district will be published by the company. The Aard Sunday services have proved a great boon to travellers, anil passengers by Saturday’s car to Napier can continue their journey on Sunday to New Plymouth, Wellington, and the intermediate towns. Gisborne residents whose children attend colleges in outside towns will be miite safe in leaving them to the care of the Aard service.

That the local “Duco” company has worked up ia good service there is not the least doubt; and their scheme of employing local driver’s will still be carried on. Their joining up with the Aard is no doubt going to be a great advantage to both services and to the people of the surrounding districts. The services to the Coast and to Motuhora will be a matter that will receive immediate attention, and in the near future Gisborne will be linked up with other centres and outlying districts by a network, of Aayd services.