Limousines Do Not Drive Through Act

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 18, 12 April 1927, Page 1

Limousines Do Not Drive Through Act

OUTSIDE PROVISIONS OF LEGISLATION Devonport Situation The Hudson limousines on the Devonport-Takapuna run do not “drive through the act” as has been suggested. They are really outside the provisions of the legislation altogether, says Mr. Leslie Alderton, solicitor for the Devonport Ferry Company. The Motor Omnibus Traffic Act under which the Yellow Buses are prevented from running between Devonport and Takapuna, defines an omnibus as a vehicle “propelled by mechanical power and designed solely for the carriage of jfbrsons not exceeding seven in number inclusive of the driver.” Under this definition the Hudson limousines are exempt even if they actually carry more than seven, because of the word “designed.” As a matter of fact some of them have carried twelve and thirteen passengers in the rush hours. Last night in the “peak” hours the Ferry Company had 18 cars on the trip, five extra ones having been hired for the occasion. The popularity of the limousine ride is undoubted. Every new Hudson limousine in New Zealand was taken ov**r to make up the company’s fleet of 13 cars, and some of them came from Dunedin. “Do you think they will pay?” Mr. Alderton was asked. “There is little doubt about it,” he replied. “The Ferry Company should be able to show a profit, because of its boats, though, probably no one else could. - Mr. Alderton said that permission would be applied for to run a bus service between Belmont and Devonport. Many old Yellow Bus passengers are refusing to ride to Bayswater.