MUNICIPAL BUSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17029, 14 August 1929, Page 5

MUNICIPAL BUSES

RACECOURSE SERVICE THE MANAGER'S VIEWPOINT Arising on I of the controversy in connection with file running of the municipal buses to the I'nrk racecourse mi race days and the matter of faros as discussed by the lion.ugh Council, a report was submitted to the council meeting last evening selling out the manager's case, and also giving a comprehensive revii w of retui ns gained on the various routes for a fortnightly period, which included two days' racing at the Park. In n report for the fortnight ended Julv Lis, the bus manager, Mr. K. G. Ball, stated:— '' The regular time table has been maintained nil all routes, and repairs carried out as required. On duly 23 and l!7 extra trips were provided on the Te llapara route to carry the race traffic, and as this service has caused some comment I wii- briefly outline the "The position in regard to races at the I'ark is different from previous years, as this locality is now directly served by the municipal licensed and insured buses running 4H trips per day to Lytton and Childers roads intersection, \'dv which li| is charged. I; is ili 1 ended when Ihe roads are in good order to extend the present terminus to Chalmers road at a fare of (id single; !*l return, and iCnl by concession. To serve the races the writer, aftei much consideration, came to the conclusion that the interests of this route could best be served by pulling on all spare vehicles and keeping the fare at the usual (id cash, taking ordinary passengers on cards and" return tickets, the route to remain unaltered, and the frequency to be a five-minute service from the (1.P.0. to Chalmers road intersection; this arrangement would obviate the previous unsatisfactory method of running from Gladstone road stand to the racecourse grounds in competition with unlicensed ser-

"Results achieved were eminently satisfactory as is apparent from the returns. The buses carried L~>oo passengers at a profitable figure, and the service received a much-needed advertisement which will react to the general benefit of the undertaking. '' I wish to draw the attention of the council to the fact that {he Is fare to the races now decided upon puts the service back in the old position, and the municipal buses will have the competition of all the unlicensed and uninsured bus services to meet; the proprietors concerned have no license to run to the Park racecourse, find under the Motor Omnibus Act should charge a minimum fare of -s Id if they do run. However, the council, being the licensing authority makes the enforcement of the regulations difficult, owing to being an interested party by owning buses in the district. 1 understand that legislation is pending to remove this difficulty, and that the regulation of bus services will be undertaken by the Transport Board, -which will insist on the conditions of the law being observed. "To summarise then: Previous races were unsatisfactory, as the buses had to compete with unlicensed services for

traffic in the town area. To meet this a frequent service was provide'! at the cash fare running from the Post Office to the racecourse gates only. Te llapara route needed all possible traffic to assist in maintaining ordinary services. The lower fare made frequent service possible and traffic was offering over a longer period than usual. Buses did not have to wait in town for loads. "Since the fare question has been raised 1 would request the council's direction as to the future policy in regard to show days, fool ball matches, hockey tournaments, carnivals, etc." On the motion of Cr. H. E. Maude it was resolved that the bus committee should confer with the manager and report to the next meeting in reference to the fares to be charged to the Jubilee Show. In reply to Vv. W. J. Mac Gibbon, the manager stated that the distances from the Post Office to the Manga pnpn, and Te llapara terminii were approximately the same. Or. Mac Gibbon asserted thai Mangnpapa was being penalised to help the Te llapara service, ami he maintained that the fares on the two routes should be brought into line. The Mayor. Mr. D. W. Coleman, remarked thai there were several matters which should be considered between the bus committee and the manager. The manager also submitted a comprehensive financial statement covering the operation of the buses during the fortnight ended duly 28. This indicated that the whole service had made a gain of 3d per mile for the period. The Kaiti route showed a loss of 1.23 d, and the Te llapara route a loss of .34d, while a profit was made by the other routes, as follows: Mangapapa 3.24 d, sundry 2.66c1, cemetery and hospital ay.s9d, races 32.67 d