BUS OWNERS WANT RAILWAYS TO ASSIST ON CORSAIR BAY RUN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18013, 25 November 1926, Page 7

BUS OWNERS WANT RAILWAYS TO ASSIST ON CORSAIR BAY RUN.

A deputation consisting of Mr F. Hobbs, Town Clerk Of Lyttelton, two Lyttelton bus proprietors, and one Governor’s Bay bus waited on Mr H. Chapman. District Traffic Manager of the Railway Department, this morning to discuss the position in regard to the Lyttelton buses, which on Monday ceased running, as the proprietors contended that they were unable to meet the heavy insurance charges as required by law. Mr Hobbs, who acted as spokesman, in the absence of the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr F. E. Sutton), pointed out the convenience it meant to the residents of the port and to picnickers in Christchurch to avail themselves of the Lyttelton-Corsair Bay bus services. It was expected that there would be a falling off of picnickers to Corsair Bay from Christchurch. The buses acted as feeders to the railway, and were of assistance to the Department in helping to attract visitors. It was stfange that, while the bus proprietors were required to insure to the extent of £4O a year for carrying passengers over a distance for which the charge was under 2s for the single trip, thev could carry passengers without insuring if they made a charge of over 2s for the trip. The proprietors were prepared to insure under some modified form but could not make the services pay if they had to pay £4O for the premium. There were no trams in Lyttelton to compete against. The bus services were much appreciated by the townspeople. He asked Mr Chapman to see what he could do in respect of the buses being run in conjunction with the railways Mr Chapman said that he would have to report the matter to headquarters for a reply.