'BUS AND TRAIN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12618, 1 December 1926, Page 9

'BUS AND TRAIN

MEETING COMPETITION i BUYING OUT THE MOTORS j STEP IN HAWKE’S BAY Recent discussions upon the heavy competition which the Railway Department has to face with the ’buses on the Hutt service brings into prominence the announcement that the first step jby the department in the direction ot buying out competitive ’bus services operating against the railway on routes where savings may be effected in the train services has been taken in the Hawke’s Bay district. Tire Napier-Hastings route, where road competition lias practically emptied the trains of ordinary passenger traffic, is the first to receive attention, and for about three weeks past the first five 'buses purchased have been running under railway control. Eight additional ’buses which were purchased at a satisfactory price were taken over. NEW SERVICES The position, therefore, is no longer complicated on that particular route by the competition of opposition services. The commercial manager of the department, Mr D. Rodle, who conducted the negotiations for the purchase of the ’buses referred to, has now gone south with tho object of instituting a new ’bus service in lieu of the present train service in the Oamaru-Tokaralii-Ngapara district. A 20-seater ’bus has been purchased and sent to Oa.maru for the inauguration of the new service. All drivers of ’buses who were employed by the firms bought out at Hastings have been taken over by the new owners, and arc now in the employ of the Railway Department’s motor section. The extension of the railway ’bus service to Eskdale is being considered as a result of the department’s, new status as owners of the road-operating fleet. REDUCING TRAINS The matter of reducing local train services where this can be done without interfering with the general efficiency of transport by rail and road, is now also receiving attention. In inaugurating its new services the Railway Department will be in a position which will place it on all fours with private companies, as it will pay licensing fees, taxes, etc., just as private companies do. It intended that alt new machines required for extension of the railway passenger ’bus service 6hall be purchased in New Zealand. The department intends to keep a separate set of accounts in connection with the running of its motor-’buses, in order that it may obtain accurate figures relative to the financial results of the undertaking. When a sufficiently long experience of the new service to show general average results has been obtained, the figures available should prove a useful guide in forming a decision regarding future operations.