CITY BUS SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 23370, 13 September 1939, Page 16

CITY BUS SERVICES

OPPOSITION TO TRIAL ROUTE AUTHORITY’S POWERS OUESTIOHED Applications by the City Corporation transport department for the renewal of licenses to operate bus services over various routes in and around the city were considered by the City Council yesterday in its position as the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. Opposition to the portion of the application for the renewal of bus services on the kill routes relating to the trial service at present being run between Kaikorai Valley and the city was entered by a committee of Roslyn residents. They were represented by Mr J. L. Calder. The City Corporation was represented by Mr A. N. Haggitt. The deputymayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) presided, and also present were Crs Gibson, Henderson, Taverner, Smith, Connolly, and Borrie. The authority of the tribunal to deal with the applications before it on the ground that it was composed entirely of members, of the body that brought the applications forward was challenged by Mr .Calder before the business was commenced. The Chairman said that the council was duly constituted as an authority under the Act. Mr Calder’s protest, however, would he noted. “ I have certain principles of Jaw to quote,” Mr Calder said, “ and I consider I am entitled to be heard.” The Chairman: I do not think so. Your objection will be noted. As the Act is laid down, we are a duly constituted authority, and all we have met for is to consider the renewal of licenses. Mr Calder advanced a further objection on the ground that unless the whole council was sitting it was not a licensing authority. “ When you are constituted a licensing authority.” lie said, “you come under the provisions of the Transport Act, and there is no provision for a quorum.” Replying to a question by Cr Gibson, Mr Calder explained that he was acting for a committee which bad been formed to collect signatures to a petition, this committee being composed of Messrs R. T. Stewart. J. Clark, J. A. Hunter. J. A. Davis, S. De Beer, G. C. Dennis, and J. Strack. It was set up to oppose the abandonment of the Roslyn trams and to oppose the renewal of the bus service between Kaikorai Valley and the city. The Chairman: It is not proposed to abandon the Roslyn trams. _ The city transport manager (Mr W. H. Mackenzie) gave evidence as to the desirability of the Kaikorai Valley service,° and in reply to Mr Calder said at had been found that between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. the buses on the down trips carried about 70 more passengers than the trams formerly did. There was also an increase in the number of passengers carried on the buses on the up trips between 10 and_ 11 p.m. Replying to a further question, Mr Mackenzie admitted that more buses were made available for the serMr Calder was proceeding with his questions when Mr Haggitt objected and submitted that the line of crossexamination was designed to raise a tram versus buses controversy, wteh was not a point for the tribunal. The question at issue was whether the service was necessary or desirable. He added that the question of competition between the two services had been raised by the witness and that counsel was entitled to pursue that line of cross-examination. The Chairman pointed out that up to this point there was nothing in the way of cross-examination to which objection could be taken. The authority considered the matter in committee and decided to grant the application for renewal of the trial service until November 20 of the present year. , , The licenses for the Normaiiby-St. Clair Saturday night and Sunday, Frederick street-Maori Hill, Rattray street-Roslyn services, and for the existing observation tours were renewed for a term of three years.