PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 9

PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT

NEW ASSOCIATION FORMED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 19. A new organization, the Public Passenger Transport Association of New Zealand, was established at a conference of public transport authorities held in Wellington on Tuesday and today. There were present: Messrs J. Sayegh, W. H. Nagle, A. E. Ford and G. R. Gribble (Auckland), J. Darby and W. H. Huggett (New Plymouth), W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., S. J. Harris and L. F. Row (Wanganui), H. Kitson and H. E. Jarman (Christchurch), M. Henderson and W. H. Mackenzie (Dunedin), R. A. Wright, W. J. Gaudin, M. Cable and other officers of the Wellington Corporation Tramways Department. Mr Sayegh was elected chairman. The following officers were elected for the ensuing 12 months: Chairman : Mr J. Sayegh; deputy chairman, Mr A. E. Ford; executive, Messrs W. H. Nagle, W. J. Rogers and W. J. Gaudin; secretary, Mr C. R. Gribble. The matters discussed during the twoday conference were the effect of petrol restrictions on public transport systems, the shortage of rolling stock ,in some centres and shortage of operating staff in others. Information was forthcoming about the effect of the staggering hours of work and amusement in large centres and the starting and finishing times for school and consequent relief at peak loading hours. It was realized .hat each city had its own problems and would have to find its own solutions. A matter which gave rise to considerable discussion was the standardization of transport material, particularly in the building of trolley and other buses, of which there are at present only a few in the Dominion. There was disclosed some divergence of practice in tramway fares for members of the armed forces. Tied to that was the question of free passes to disabled soldiers and others suffering from varying disabilities.

Other matters discussed were a more equitable apportionment of the petrol tax, the payment of rates on tramway tracks in those districts where rating was not on the unimproved value, a variation in the conditions governing taxi services and the carriage of perambulators on tramcars. It was decided that the next conference be held in Auckland.