BUS SERVICES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 6 December 1927, Page 3

BUS SERVICES

APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES NO, 8 AUTHORITY. STATE & PRIVATE CONCERNS. A special meeting of the No. 8 Omnibus Licensing Authority was held in Napier yesterday for the purpose of Rearing applications to establish motor ’bus services in the district. The Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown) presided, the following representatives of local bodies being in attendance:—Councillors H. J. Harman, AV. G. Martin, A. E. Bedford, J. C. Bryant. F. Rice and C. D. Cox (Napier Borough Council). Cr. AV. Tucker and Mr. A. H. Ferguson (H.B. County Council), Councillor G. C. Lowe and Mr. P. R. Purser (Hastings Borough Council), and Mr. AV. Gray (Havelock North Town Board). HAUMOANA SERVICE. An application was received from Messrs. Lloyd and Brown to establish a service between Hastings and Haumoana via Karamu road. Mr. Lloyd, representing the Crest Motors Company, stated that after they had initiated the service on September 3rd last the Railway Department had started a service in opposition. There was no room for two services and people were being well served by the Crest Motor Co. and were satisfied. The Department had taken out a license in March last but did not run until they (the company) had started. The action of the Government looked as if it wanted to run his company off the road. It had been said by many that it had been most unfair the way that the Government had started against them. If that kind of thing was to continue it was hard to say what would happen to New Zealand. If a private enterprise could give good service it was only right that they should continue and not have their living taken from them. His company started when there were but few travelling and they had worked up a good service. Mr. Lloyd then submitted a letter from Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., to the Prime Minister dealing with the matter, in which he did not approve of the action of the Department in putting on a service against the private enterprise who were giving an efficient service.

Mr. Dunnett, traffic inspector at Hastings, said that Lloyd’s service at Hastings to Haumoana had been efficient and had given satisfaction.

Mr, Marshall, on behalf of the Railway Department, said that when the Blue Fleet was purchased the company was then running a service to Haumoana which the Department continued during the summer. During this, period there were no complaints against State enterprise. In October the Department decided to again run the service, but in the meantime Messrs. Lloyd and Browi. started a service'which meant that it was really private enterprise versus the State. He wished to make it clear that the Department did not wish to crush anyone and further, any profits made belonged to the people. Mr. F. Rice: And so do the losses. Mr. Marshall, continuing, said that so far there had not been any losses. He considered that until the applicants could show that the Department was not giving an efficient service the application should not be granted. He further stated that the timetables and fares of the applicants should be submitted. The Town Clerk (Mr. J. Dick) explained that Lloyd and Brown had submitted both a timetable and list of fares. Mr. Lloyd: AA'e can carry all the people and will handle them with cars even if it reaches up to a thousand persons. We intend running through the winter, not leaving the people stranded once the peak season is over. Further, we don’t increase our fares on Sundays and I can assure you that the public sympathy is with the Crest Motors. To Mr Rice: We started the annual service. People had stated that th' v would live at Haumoana permanently if they could depend upon a service. Mr. Marshall: AA’e held a license to run on Sundays last year, and it was urged that we should run a daily service this year. In September an announcement was made that it would be started, when the applicants started. If we had come in and started cutting fares Mr. Lloyd would have Wad something to complain about. Mr. Llovd: If the Department had a license in March last why didn’t they put on a ’bus to cater for the people ? Air. Purser: Does the Department intend running a continued service, or lust to take the cream ? Mr. Marshall: Yes. with certain limitations. The chairman’ at this stage intimated that the matter would lie fully gone into by the Council. BUS SERVICES FOR HASTINGS. Several applications were received for the running of ’bus services in various parts of Hastings.

Mr. Foster, representing the Safety - Motor Service, stated that his service was ready to start immediately. As his application was first on the list it should be treated accordingly. Mr. Purser said it was a question of which service would serve the Hastings people best. He pointed out that the proposed service would traverse a portion of route now served by Nimons. Mr. Nimon objected to the proposed service, stating that it would interfere with his service running between Hastings and Havelock North. In speaking in support of the Hastings Chequer ’Bus Company, Ltd., Mr. C. Duff said that their application was the only one that really could be considered as it was the only one in which a timetable and fares had been submitted. Mr. Foster pointed out that he had posted his particulars that day. Mr. Duff stated that the principal business of his company was'to give an efficient service to the four quarters of Hastings, to each of which a separate service would be provided. They recognised that Nimon and Sons had a service along the main street and it was not intended at all to traverse their route. He that the matter should be referrefrto the Hastings Borough Council fol- a recommendation seeing that that body would be better acquainted with the needs of the town. There was only room for one service and his company could not consider serving only one part of Hastings. Mr. Foster: I don’t agree with Mr. Duff. I don’t see why his company should have a monopoly. There -are other people besides the Chequer Company who could give service there. AVe are ready to start next week and give, the neople a half-hour service. AVe are only after one route, not the Jot. There are others left for Mr. Duff. Mr. Duff: I would like to point out that Mr. Foster has picked out the best route. Mr. Marshall: The question is how should these competitive services run with the existing services. Mr. Duff: The Department need not worry about our service. AVe won’t pick the eyes out of their service. MEEANEE VIA RIVERBEND. An application was received from the Hawke’s Bay Motor Co. for a license to run a service from Napier to Meeanee and Taradale, via Riverbend road. Mr. Duff, on behalf of the Albert Co., opposed the application, stating that the proposed fares, routes, anu timetables were substantially the same as those by the existing service. No complaint had been made against the existing services. This section was the better paving portion of the route and if taken awr-y would greatly interfere with the company.

If there was a need for a better service they would be prepared to put it in. The company had pioneered the service and it would not be fair to take the best portion of the route from it. Mr. D. Harvey, representing the application, said that it was understood that the existing company was going to cease operations on that route and in consequence they put in the license. As a result of Mr. Duff’s remarks he signified his intention of withdrawing his application. The opportunity of making any objection was given in order that the licensing body would have something definite to work upon and give its decisions accordingly.