Bus Services

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 3

Bus Services

Sir.—As a ratepayer of our city I wish to commend the Transport Board for its refusal to run late picture buses to coincide with the finishing time pf a certain picture. One would have thought that the picture management would have offered to reimburse the board for the extra cost. I hold the opinion that the transport deficiency should be shouldered by city firms, as a great part of the activities of the board consist in taking customers to and from their businesses. I might mention in support of my contention that one of New Zealand’s largest stores spends a fabulous sum in providing transport to and from its premises, which includes a regular

trolley-bus and tram service, in addition to about half a dozen manned lifts and escalators between the floors, and is still able to compete.— Yours, etc., R.H. May 3, 1961.

Sir, —Transport for city picture patrons should be possible by the following compromise. Let the buses run later for one week of the screening, or, better still, let the buses run late on the Friday and Saturday nights during the screening. The bus drivers will then have a little extra work at the end of the week. Let the picture theatres mutually advertise this service to all picture patrons, and, say, offer the Transport Board to make up the deficit for non-paying runs, as they will have had extra patronage at the extra prices being charged. The public will be helped, the bus drivers will have some extra wages, the Transport Board will not lose, and the picture theatre will get extra patronage.—Yours, etc., NO CAR. May 3, 1961.

Sir, —If your reporter’s unwittingly humorous account of yesterday’s Transport Board “discussion” is typical of the muddleheaded thinking of the board, one despairs of any improvement in public transport in this city. Does Mr Fardell really expect us to believe that £23 6s 3d in bxtra wages nightly is an in. superable barrier to a “last bus” at 11.30 p.m.—a service which would not be confined to the patrons of one film? Could it not afford it even on Fridays and Saturdays? One is at least moved to hope that the poorly patronised 10.25 “relief” bus to Aidwins road <a hark-back to the days of 80-90 minute cinema features) will eventually be retimed, and the route extended. to relieve nightly congestion on the 10.55 to South Brighton. Will the board ever heed requests for a 10.55 final trip to now densely-populated Wainoni? Yet it arrogantly assumes the answer to the present lack of patronage of a so-called “service” is another increase in fares! —Yours, etc., NEW BRIGHTON ROAD. May 2, 1961.