BUS TRANSPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 2

BUS TRANSPORT

Shortage Of Drivers The difficulties under which passenger bus services were being operated in Auckland were described at a sitting of the No. 2 (Auckland) Armed Forces Appeal Board. Appeals by several bus companies in respect of 23 drivers were dealt with. Most of the appeals were adjourned for review in three months, two relating to men unfit for service were adjourned sine die and a few were withdrawn. Representatives of the appellant companies spoke of the shortage of drivers and stated that it was very difficult to operate the services and still observe the award. At rush periods it was necessary to use workshop hands and bus inspectors as drivers. The companies had found it necessary to see that their workshop employees held passenger driving licences. "The standard of drivers we have today is not as high as it was before the war,” said one witness. "At present we have to employ some men who we would not have considered formerly.”