PETONE MOTOR BUSES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 5

PETONE MOTOR BUSES

SERVICE TO BE DISCONTINUED.

Speaking on the report of the Motor Service Committee at the meeting of the -I'etouo Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr. J. Mi. M'Ewan) remarked on the drastic writing-down of the values of the buses. The values had gone down from Jtf-iflO to 41320, a drop of 42030. The cost of running the buses worked out at 7d. per mile. If they were to accept the writing-down in the value, all he could say was that the Petone Borough Council had had a most extraordinary record with buses. In comparing the cost of running the local buses with those in Tiinaru it was shown that tho Tiniavu buses were run-much more economically. It seemed that tho difference in the results' obtained in Timaru with the experience in Petono was caused by the fewer interruptions in the Timaru service. The local buses had been in the repair shop far too much to give an efficient service. Continuing, Mr. M'Ewan said that if tho council were to continue running the buses he would suggest the cutting out of the service to and from the city on week days, and also suggest that every effort bo made to sccuto spare parts. Ho would also suggest that instructions bd issued lo tho drivers to drive at a reasonable speed. He (lid not think it possible that the bus service-' would ever bo mado a paying concern, but doubtless big improvements could be made. The report of the Motor Bus Committee showed that on March 31 last tho liabilities amounted to ,£6766 Is. and the assots to .£3781 18s. -id., showing a deficiency of 42931 2s. Bd. ]n addition it was estimated that n further approximate expenditure of 4350 would Live, to be mado to put tho buses in running' order. In conclusion, the report suggested that it would Jic. quite impossible to run tho buses as a payable concern, and under the circumstances it had no recommendation to make.

It was decided, on the motion of Councillor Cooi, to discontinue the motorbus service and to soil the buses.