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Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1926, Page 2

The conflict as between ’bus am.

tram in the cities in large towns is still being waged, hast week representatives ol the tactions were brought together Indore the Prime Minister to discuss the situation. But there was not any real agreement reached, and the Government "ill have to act in-iV.-pemlently between the parties, and probably not please either side. As one commentator remarked : No one is hoisting the white Hag in the war between ’bus and tram. Ileprosenscntatives of both sides attended a conference held in Wellington to arrange armistice terms and discuss dralt regulations for ’bus control. An agree-

ment was not arrived at. Il is stated that the three chief issues upon which there was no agreement were: firstly, tliia constitution of the licensing authority. secondly, the powers of the licensing authority: and, lastly, the fixation of minimum fares. On the first-mentioned question the local bodies supported the Govrrnmeiit proposal that- the licensing powers should 1 placed in the ha mis of the local hollies, subject to a right or appeal Lo an independent board. The motor omnibus proprietors pressed tor a licensing board, and in doing so intimated that provided an independent chairman was appointed whatever repnesontation o” the board was desired by the local authorities would be accept a bit*, and that no right of appeal was desired, or to-ti-onately, that the appeal board should lie made the licen-ing board. Con-

cerning the second question relating to the powers of the licensing authority, the local bodies insisted that the licensing authority should take into (nnsiderat ion. in deterininin; whether or not a. license should I granted, the adequacy or otherwise of existing transport facilities, and should have power to fix routes, fun time-tables and other rood il ions. Tin omnibus proprietors resisted the right of the licensing authority to bare

pal'd to existing facilities in determining whether or not a li ense should lv granted, hut agreed that, if was proper for routes to he fixed on the grounds of public safety and that regular timo-lab'ics should he adhered to similar t i those nbv.Tved by the tramways and covering the same hours ol the day. On the third issue, relating to tlie fixation of minimum fares, the local bellies iu.-i-ted that the fares to he charged by private omnibus services should be 50 p i cent, more than the < orresponding fare for the same journey charged by any tramway or pnhlicly-o" tied xercieo. omnibus services should ho 50 per cent, more than the corresponding lari' for the same journey c harged bv any tramway or publicly-owned private omnibus service, with a proviso that every private omnibus fare should be at lea t ("openee more than the tramway faro. Thi' omnibus proprietors, whilst disapprovin'; of the principle of fixation of fares, made an ollVr lo compromise on that basis id an equal miuimcm far for all service-, that is to .-ay, thnl motor omnibuses-, whether p'i'.al ' owned, should charge no !e s than the I remit ays- for tlie same journey.