STATE VERSUS PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 234, 6 November 1940, Page 4

STATE VERSUS PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

Sir, —I would like to draw attention to the very convenient bus service running l'rom Rotorua to Whakatanc.. I had notice to attend a medical examination at 1 p.m. on Saturday the 26th inst and received a pass from the military authorities to travel by the bus to Whakatane and would be pleased to know what ■ the military authorities attitude is towards a man not turning up for medical examination, when notified to attend. I am living 23 miles from Whakatane and after walking three miles ■ to the main road to catch the bus and waiting about half an hour, along came a bus, and the driver, on being given the signal to stop, only waved his hand and drove on; so I was left tljere not knowing whether there would be another bus or not. However after waiting a considerable length of time I decided * to ask a private car if they would take me in; not even knowing whether I would get back with the bus that" night. I went into the office in Whakatane and enquired into the matter and was calmlv told that "the bus was full and that the wave of the hand meant there would be another coming later; in fact the man in the . office never had time to see what I Z wanted but continued to read a pap- 3 er on the counter and treated, the matter as of no account, so I walk™ 'j. Ed out without enquiring about "the ? timetable and begged a lift home with a friend who waited hours for me. (I believe the next bus came about one o'clock —4 hours later). Now Sir, when the old bus service , ran they made it their business to see that passengers were not left standing by the roadside in out o£ the way places without at least advising them of the circumstances., ! They didn't leave them there to see how big a fool they could make o£ them. I have seen them drive considerable distances past and someone come running out waving and they would stop and back to see what was wanted, but unfortunately private enterprise is at an end. and the old social method of travelling^ I is a thing of the past. . | . Yours etc., i VIGTIM.