RAILWAYS ROAD SERVICE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 16, 12 October 1937, Page 9

RAILWAYS ROAD SERVICE

-Presa Assoeiation.)

Preference Over Other Applicant CULVERDEN-WESTPORT

(By Teleerapb-

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. A licence to operate a continuous passenger service between Culverden and Westport, by way of Lewis Pass road and Reefton, bas been granted to the Railways Department by the reserved decision of the licensing authority for the No. 3 transport district, Mr. T. H. -Langford, which was released to-day. The decision stipulates that the service is to be begun not later than December 1, 1937. Tbe only other application considered was made by Mr T. S. Patterson, of Reefton. A third application was withdrawn. Tho licence, which will expire on jAugust 31, 1938, permits any of the Ivehicles operated by the Department to ibe used for the service. The fares have been fixed at 45s single and 60s return. A schedule of charges for parcels to be carried by the passenger service is to be submitted to the authority for approval at a later date.. The application by the Department Vras granted, the decision states, under the right given to the department nnder section 27 of the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, which states that the Minister for Railways is to be given prefer-' ence over all other applications if "there is no existing transport service over the route or routes mentiohed in the application." The Act also stipulates irhat the proposed service is to be tm extension of an existing service carried on by the applicant, a condition which the department undoubtedly jatisfies.The decision says a further ground (s -that where large sums of public aaoney are expended in the construction »f roads over new routes the public is antitled to all the possible return for the expenditure, and the authority ihould, therefore, do no other than jfrant the licence to the Minister.