ROAD SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 3

ROAD SERVICES

SITTING OF LICENSING AUTHORITY.

A sitting of the No. 10 Transport Licensing Authority comprising Messrs F. G. Hall-Jones (chairman), W. J. Wesney, D. Dickie and the secretary (Mr G. E. Whitmore), was held in Invercargill yesterday when evidence and representations concerning eight applications for passenger service licenses were heard.

The following decisions were given: R. MacLennan, Riverton-Invercar-gill; G. E. Maltby, Invercargill-Lome-ville; H. M. Agnew, Invercargill-Lorne-ville. Existing licenses were renewed without amendment.

J. R. Smith, Gorge Road-Invercargill. Applicant’s existing license was renewed with an amendment to provide for a service to Seaward Downs on two days of the week. J. Lyon, Invercargill-Wallacetown. This application, which related to a renewal of the license previously held by F. R. Challis, was granted. Applicant’s request for additional evening services on Fridays and Saturdays was also approved. D. W. Low, Gore (rural); R. W. Gerken, Gore (rural). Both applications were granted subject to submission to schedules of goods charges and intermediate fares for approval of the chairman.

A. J. Gerken, Mossbum-Invercargill. Applicant was represented by counsel (Mr T. R. Pryde), and opposing the application were Messrs George Hewton (Ohai-Invercargill service), and J. Paterson (Mossbum-Invercargill) service.) After hearing the evidence of and in support of the applicant and of the objectors, it was the unanimous decision of the board that the application be refused. It was stated that the Mossbum district was adequately catered for by a daily service from Mossbum to Invercargill, and by a service biweekly from Matuku to Mossbum. South from Matuku to Wreys Bush was a sparsely populated area and no service was warranted on this route. The routes from Wreys Bush to the neighbourhood of Heddon Bush and from Northope to Invercargill were adequately catered for by a daily service. The intervening road—Heddon Bush to Northope via Oreti—was served biweekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Prior to the purchase by Mr G. Hewton of Mr W. Mason’s Ohai-jlnvercar-gill service this road had a five-day service per week, the operation of which showed a substantial loss last financial year. The dwellings on this road were not numerous and were within reasonable distance of existing daily services. The board did not consider that the service applied for could be run profitably. Amendments to Mr G. Hewton’s In-vercargill-Riverton passenger service license, and the revocation of Mr E. Bradshaw’s license for the same route, were confirmed.

Similar action was taken in respect of amendments to Mr G. Hewton’s Ohai-Invercargill passenger service license and the revocation of Mr W. Mason’s license for that route.