TIMARU BUS SERVICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23387, 19 December 1945, Page 2

TIMARU BUS SERVICE

Sir, —It would appear that one or two of the Borough Council’s committees are figureheads rather than able practitioners. The Reserves Committee, for instance, seems to be directed by the Curator. Timaru's need for further playing fields, and the locality thereof, should be determined by the authority set up for the job. not by the Council’s head gardener. The bus service is in like shape; it is under fire and fully merits all strictures. Tire idea of a municipal bus service showing a profit should be forgotten. Further, in matters pertaining to an efficient service the committee should be able to act accordingly. The ingrained habit of the Omnibus Committee is to place all outside suggestions for an improvement before the engineer, who Just as habitually turns them down, and that’s all there is to it. Some months ago this committee was asked to consider making Maltby Avenue the terminus for all Church Street buses, thereby creating a more evenly balanced service between North Street and Wai-iti Road. Various members of the Council approached, including the chairman of the Omnibus Committee, thought it an excellent idea, but the engineer said, "No, for reasons of economy, we can’t do it.” The proposal meant an extra coverage of perhaps 400 yards each return trip. Visitors must be catered for, while on the route in question elderly people may or may not catch their buses through having to walk a distance that could and should be eliminated by the operation of a service for community convenience.—l am, etc., R. W. Anderson.