BUS TRANSPORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 700, 28 November 1933, Page 6

BUS TRANSPORT

TAXI OPPOSITION CARRYING PASSENGERS FROM STATION TO HOTELS APPLICATION FOR LICENSE An application made by the Rotorua Bus Company to No. 4 Transport Licensing Authority, comprising Messrs. T. B. Logan (chairman) and M. Chambers, yesterday for a license to carry passengers to and from hotels, boardinghouses and the railway station was strenuously opposed by taxi proprietors and the Rotorua Borough Council. Petitions for and against the license were presented to the authority signed by various hotel and boardinghouse proprietors and after hearing evidence on each side I the authority reserved its decision. The applicant company was represented by Mr. J. D. Davys, while Mr. E. Roe appeared for the taximen and a number of hotel and boardinghouse-keepers and the town clerk, Mr. W. A. McLean, for the borough council. Mr. G. T. Wilson watched proceedings for the Railway Board. Before calling evidence Mr. Davys stated that prior to the imposition of the transport regulations the Bus Company had attended the arrival of all trains since the railway had been extended to Rotorua, transporting passengers to the various hotels. However, the company had neglected to apply for an automatic license when the regulations came into force and since then had been attending the station under contract to two of the hotels in the town. It had been found that jealously had been engendered in the minds of other boardinghouse proprietors through this system and in other respects the .contracts had proved unsatisfactory. Combined with the fact that there was a great lack of transport facilities from the station at present, this was one of the main reasons for the application for a license. Boardinghouse Opinion Mr. C. R. Tapper, a boardinghouse proprietor of Rotorua, considered that the present transport facilities were totally inadequate for the needs of the town. He did not desire to interfere with the business of the taxi-proprietors, but thought that a severe blow would be given to the town if the Bus Company were not allowed to run. He did not consider that a temporary license would be suitable to cope with occasional rushes of traffic and said that he had noticed that when special functions were in progress in town the taxis were missing from the station. If the application was granted he understood that a regular service would have to be maintained. Similar evidence was given by Mr. F. Chambers, of Waiwera House, who said he could not account for the objection raised by other boarding-house-keepers. An opinion that the present facilities were inadequate was given by the stationmaster, Mr. W. J. Thompson, who also supported the evidence that at present all the taxis did not attend the station on the arrival of trains. No Touting To Mr. Roe he replied in the negative to the suggestion that porters "touted" on the station for the Bus Company. He considered that the fee of £1 charged by the department to taxi-drivers plying for hire on the station was reasonable as his department must necessarily exercise some control and restrict the type of cars and their drivers in the interest of railway travellers. The fees also brought considerable revenue to the department. Not Sightseeing James Diver, driver for the Bus Company, detailed difficulties which had arisen under the contract system and these were also advanced by Albert P. S'mith, a director of the company. He did not consider it reasonable to suggest that the company shouid maintain buses for an occasional special period .or day during the year. A license for six buses was required in order that when necessity arose the town could be divided into sections and passengers promptly despatched to their various destinar.iem-. H° w-futod a suggestion that t j . s_. t .r ihe iiccnsc was to in•knw ; i".'i ' do the t'-ips, saving that. i."': oompaiiv did not hold licen-

. s;*s iivi-r the most .mportanr ot the ; iRsiri"!. sightseeing routes. The only ; obioet was to cater for the travelling public. The Borough Objection While conceding that sufficient transport was not available from the station, the town clerk, Mr. W. A. McLean, said that it was his council's opinion that the authority conld not grant a license as the company would , not be using specifie vehicles on de- ' fined routes. The company had also refused to pay a plying-for-hire license fee to the council and it was felt that if the license were granted the taximen would not be permitted ; to operate from the station. In the . past the Bus Company had never visI ited hotels unless passengers were offering. Unique Application In opposition to the application, Mr. Roe considered that the applicaI tion was unique, as . he knew of no ; other place of the same size as Ro- , torua where a company operating a fieet of buses had made application ' for a plying-for-hire service. If it i was granted a taximan who picked up : two passengers desiring to go to two different hotels, would be unable to ' charge separate fares as he would be I travelling over a defined route; also ' considerable damage would be done to the taxi business and they would ; eventually probably have to disconI tinue visits to the station. At present taxis attended the arrival of the 11 p.m. train , which the Bus Company did not apparently desire to do under their proposed license. Arranging the Work G. Robinson, a taxi-driver, said that there were 12 taxis in Rotorua, although during the quietier times these drivers had an understanding whereby they did not all attend the station on occasions. In busy times all would attend. He did not think that at any time more than 175 passengers would desire taxi or bus transport. Replying to Mr. Davys, witness adjnitted that the Bus Company had been visiting the station for a number >

of years before the transport regulations. Similar evidence was given by three other taximen, Messrs. McDonald, R. Cavanagh, and A. Pallister. Mr L. C. Ryan, manager R.M. Company, stated that on occasions when special parties had been handled by his company, the assistance of taxis had filled requirements. The R.M. Company also transported passengers (from the train at special rates and ! did not compete with the taxis. After Mr. Davys had addressed the 'authority, the chairman announced that it would require to consider its •decision.