TRANSIT CLUBS NOT REAL CLUBS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 13

TRANSIT CLUBS NOT REAL CLUBS

MAGISTRATE’S DECISION ‘‘COMMUNITY” PROSECUTIONS That the General Social Transit Club was not a club, and that drivers of the club's buses were not limiting passengers to members of the club, was the decision of Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M.. in the Police Court yesterday, when prosecutions in connection with the community bus services run by the club were heard.

A HASSELL ;uul E * (Mr. M. Walker,) were charged with carrying on a bus service without a license, and Meynell was also charged with permitting a vehicle to be used without a heavy traffic license. To the latter charge he pleaded guilty, but both defendants pleaded not guilty to the other charges. Meynell, in evidence, said he had an arrangement with the General Transit Social Club to carry club members in his buses on the Point Chevalier and Parnell Park routes. He received from the club a gratuity which sometimes more than met the expenses, and sometimes did not. Anyone boarding the buses was asked to join the club, and if he refused he was not allowed to travel. Xo change was given on the bus, but passengers were invited to place donations to the club in a box. A notice on the buses read: "Members’ car.” Mr. Walker submitted that the bus was not plying for hire, as only club members were carried. Meynell was fined £5 on the first charge and £3 on the second. Hassell, who was employed as a driver was fined £l. At counsel’s request the fines were increased to £5 Is to enable appeals to be made. Samuel Bradley, president of the Mount Eden Club, was charged with carrying on a bus service without a licence. He said that the club’s solicitor had told a meeting of the committee that the Mayor and chief traffic inspector had assured him that if the buses were withdrawn from the Onohunga route they would guarantee the

granting of a licence for the other routes. Mr. Mackay. who appeared for tie* City Council, said that nothing like that promise had been given. Bradley was fined £2. and similar penalties for similar offences were imposed upon Percy Brown. J. Collett. W. E. Hutchinson, Harold MeLaughlan. and E. L. White. For driving a bus without a licence Brown. Hutchinson, White and MoLaugh lan were each fined £l.