BUS COMPETITION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16580, 22 February 1928, Page 4

BUS COMPETITION

MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE COURT ACTION THREATENED A Supreme Court action threatens in connection with the competition of the Gisborne Borough Council buses with private enterprise for the carrying of picnic parties. A letter in this connection was read at last evening’s meeting of the council from Messrs. Brosnahan and Beaufoy, and at least some of the councillors were not in sympathy with the council’s action with regard to such competition. The letter from Messrs. Brosnahan and Boaufov read as follows: —

“Wo have been instructed by Mrs. Wilcox to write you with reference to your buses competing against her for picnic parties. We understand that your municipal bus department is arranging to take out a, party on Thursday. We might mention that our client has already negotiated for this trip, and was in fact accepted by the peoplo she was to carry. They have since been informed that they cannot accept her because your buses aro running in competition. “If this is a fact we propose to contest the matter in the next Supreme Court by issuing an originating summons to decido whether or not your buses aro entitled to compete for picnic parties, and further whether your buses aro entitled to compete without paying the usual tax. “Our client does not wish to take up this stand, but you will understand that for her own protection she had to do so, particularly in view of tho fact that she has a considerable sum of money involved in tho purchase of up-to-date buses, and she must have some protection. “It is quite obvious to us that if the Borough Council is going to run in opposition to our client then wc shall haVe no alternative other than to contest this matter in the Supreme Court to see how far you can go.” The Deputy-Mayor, Cr. J. Blair: We will have to refer it to the tramways manager for the actual facts. As to tho legal aspect, it does not state the grounds of what we havo dono that is illegal. The legal point is not really stated in the letter.

Cr. F. Collin said the tramways manager frequently stated that he had not sufficient buses to carry -on the service, yet he had asked permission to run for picnic parties.-

Cr. T. Todd: That is when the borough service is slack. Cr. W. J. Mac Gibbon considered that .the Borough Council should not compote in catering for picnic parties. Cr. J. W. H. Holmes: I don’t'suppose the council buses pay the tax for Tunning through tho county. It -was decided to obtain tho tramway manager’s report and then place tho facts beforo the council’s .solicitors, it being suggested that the tramways committee should meet on Monday. At a later stage, when the .tramways report was submitted, Cr. Collin drew attention to a portion which stated that buses had been run for the races and to beaches. He protested against the buses being run in competition with private enterprise. Tho Deputy-Mayor: That is the matter you mentioned just now? Cr. Collin: Yes.

The Deputy-Mayor: Wo can question the tramways manager on that on Monday.