ROAD PASSENGER SERVICE

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1235, 19 June 1947, Page 7

ROAD PASSENGER SERVICE

NEW LICENSE OPPOSED Authority Resem es Decision Therr, wa.-, strong opposition from New Zealand Railways, Railways Road Service's- and- Buses, Ltd., to amendments to time-tables sought by Edward-- Motors, Ltd., before the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr.-. E. J. Phelan. The amendments would complete applicants’ n-et-iwork of major services in the Thames Valley-Roto- -ua district [byproviding- an early -naming service from Auckland to Rotorua via the upper Thames Valley- and by givingconnections to many other services. The Aucikland-Roc orua run was already an accomplished fact, said Mr. F. E. Burn®, for the applicant company. It had contracted to carry newspapers from Auckland to Rotorua, a transijSort license not being necessary. A 21-passenger bus meeting all requirements for passenger transport left Auckland at 3 а. daily, arriving at Rotorua at 7.45 a.m., the route being- entirely ever the company’s territory-. Strong Public Demand There was strong public demand for the carriage of passengers and support was available from all local bodies and chambers of co-mimerce in the affected districts. A license relink public demand with the existing facilities was sought. The second amendment aimed at .serving need? of passengers foiMorrinsville, Ma’tamata, Te Aroha and Paeroa who travelled north byexpress arriving at Fran-kton Junction a-t about 4.30 a.m. This service reeded little advocacy, and would -je warmly supported hy the public. Tfie need for it had- been recognised by the Railways Department since it provided services- to Cambridge, Rotorua and Tauranga at an earlyhour, and the applicant companyfailed- to see why the same advantages should not be enjoyed by the ’residents of other towns. The third -amendment- provided for a further service -between Paeroa and Te Aroha which would give Te Aroha a link with Thames 1 and Waihi, and- Paeroa a convenient link with Hamilton. Proposed Timetable Details of the applications were given- by Mb. C. L. Edwards, the first timetable being as follows, with authority sought for carriage of passengers as well a-s newspapers: depart Auckland' 3 a.m., Mor-rin-sville 5.40 arm. (connection- to Paeroa and Te Aroha),. Matamata б. a.m. (connection from Te A-ro-ha), Tirau 6.45 a.m., arrive Rotorua 7.45 a.m.; depart Rotorua 10.30 a.m., Okorolre 11.30 a.m., Ma-ta-mata 12 noon (connection to Te Aroha, Paer-oa and Thames), fylorrinsville 12.45 p.m., arrive Auckland 5 pirn. Apart fro-rn obvious- advantages to the travelling public, the, proposed service would link the New Zealand read services from Rotorua to Opotdri, and Gisborne, Waiikaremoana ai d Wairoa, Tau-po and Napier. On. the return trip people from as ‘Ear afield as Opo-tiki could travel to Te Aroha, M-orrinsvilie and Auckland. A,t present through services travelled via Cambridge and Hamilton, and the applicant company felt there- should be an alternative route " cater for public comfort and r.eed-s. ' .. Railways Objection Other amendments outlined! by’ Mr. Edwards l were supported by Messrs. B. Chapman, ’representing the Borough Council and Chamber olf Commerce at Morrinsville, L. C. Mackie, J. T. Wyatt (Te Aroha), P. A. Kusalbs, S. Smith (Rotorua), R. Reid, W. J. Sharp (Matamata) and C. C. Webb (Paetroa). Objecting in particular to the A-uc'k land-Rotoru a run, the Railways- representative said his department was absolutely opposed to further through licenses being grouted between Auckland and Rotorua. '(Tie service already was being giver, by the department, which did not see necessity ferr further licenses 1 . Mir. A. Brown and- Mr. W. Hannah, Road Services managers at Auckland and Rotorua, respectively, gave evidence claiming the- present services were entirely satisfactory. For Buses, Ltd., Mr. A. R obertshaw, Hamilton, objected to the service between Paeroa and) Hamilton, although under existing a-ran-ge-ments applicant could not pick: up orr set down passengers between Te Aroha and Hamilton. Mr. A. A. Griffiths, manager-, Buses, ltd,, claimed that strictly speaking Edwards’ services should stop ai- Te A-roha, trans-shipping .passenger a to Buses, Ltd., vehicles for Hamilton and McCTrinsville. -Decision was -reserved on all three applications.