CITY TRANSPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 169, 20 July 1942, Page 4

CITY TRANSPORT

REDUCTION PROBLEM

BUS OPERATORS' EFFORTS

The task of deciding how best to reduce the existing bus services in the city to meet with the stated requirements of the Minister of Transport for a 25 per cent week-day and 75 per cent S-unday reduction, while at the same time bringing about the minimum amount of inconvenience to the travelling public, was embarked upon this morning by the Auckland Transport Board, sitting as the Metropolitan Licensing Authority.

Practically all the bus operators concerned have already curtailed services.

On behalf of the Auckland Transport Board it was stated that the feeder services, particularly those from Avondale to Point Chevalier, from Blockhouse Bay to Avondale, and from Waikcwhai to Avondale, had already been reduced to the minimum. Five out of their 12 services were feeder branches, and if these were further cut, particularly in the three branches already mentioned, it would tend to isolate the communities concerned, many of whom were night workers on essential services. So far the company had effected a 20 per cent overall saving of mileage. Would Defeat Whole Object In answer to a question from Mr. A. S. Bailey, it was stated by the Auckland Transport Board's representative that it services were so greatly reduced that overloading occurred, this would be liable to defeat their main object, since it might result in greater damage to tyres. The makers of tyres stipulated a certain maximum load, and they were in the best position tc know what the tyres would stand. Suburban Buses, Ltd., intimated that they proposed to cease running on their Auckland-Te Papapa service after the 7.10 p.m. trip. On behalf of L. J. Keys, Ltd., it was stated that they were unable further to reduce Sunday services, while week-day buses were already overloaded. The only means of further economising was to shorten some of the existing routes which had been extended during recent years. The company had run no race or other pleasure contract trips since Japan's entry into the war. Hospital Bus Services An overall economy of 33 1-3 per cent was reported by the Hospital Bus Co., Ltd.. by means of widening the interval between trips, but it was found impossible to further reduce Sunday running, already reduced by 60 per cent, because this was the only day on which the public was able to visit the Public Hospital. It was proposed by W. J. Wheeler and Sons to maintain the present Auckland-Penrose week-day service as at present, it being already mainly restricted to one bus, except during peak hours, but to entirely cancel the Sunday service and to effect a further economy on the AucklandPukekohe run during the week.