RAIL-ROAD LINK

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 104, 2 November 1938, Page 1

RAIL-ROAD LINK

AUGKLAND-OPOTIKI-GISBORNE

RAILWAYS TAKE OVER

DEPARTMENTAL UNIT NOW

PRIVATE FIRM GOES OUT

The acquisition of anothor road transport service by the Railways Department was completed during the week-end, following weeks of negotiation, the Auckland-Taneatua-Opotiki-Gisbonie service having passed into the control of the department.

Officers of the Railways Department, - 'representing the different branches of the service, were busily engaged over the week-end in taking over and co-ordinating the roadtransport service as a departmental operating unit, connecting with the northern railhead at Taneatua-

The Gisborne office and depot of tke road service will remain in the present Grey street quarters, but the service will be under the control of the station master ip charge at Gisborne, Mr. J. W. Fcrgie.

It is some weeks since the prospect of the Auekland-Taneatuu-Gisborne road service being taken over by the Government became public knowledge in the Gisborne district, but it is understood that the negotiations hung fire. When the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, visited Gisborne on the eve of the elections, he informed a pressman who inquired into the matter that he could make no statement for publication. Mr. D. Crooks, who formerly managed the Auckland-Tuneatua-Gisborno service, resigned just before the date of the general elections to take over th management of Ward’s Transport for Mr J. O. Musgravc.