Rival Bus Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 179, 19 October 1927, Page 9

Rival Bus Interests

PANMURE SERVICE

TRANSPORT CO. WINS Several reasons, including an offer to call off competition with the trams, induced the No. 1 Licensing Authority to grant the city-Panmure-Bucklands Beach bus service to the Transport Company this morning. This means the cancellation of the licence to A. J. Markey, granted last meeting. The granting of the licence to Mar- i key was appealed against by the Passenger Transport Company. The Appeal Board referred the whole question back to the authority, and to-day applications came before the authority from both Markey and the Transport Company. Markey’s application was supported by the Manukau County Council, the f Mount Wellington Road Board, the Panmure Town Board and residents from both Panmure and Bucklands Beach, and the local bodies concerned gave evidence in support. Markey said he had been in the bus business in Auckland for eight years. The Transport Company submitted that it was entitled to the service, being an established company, with a large sum of money invested. It had run the services for three years over ! the rough roads due to concreting. It was submitted that the same rule should apply here as in the case where new services threatened the tramways. In this case Markey could not remain on the road unless he picked up traffic for Ellerslie, which was now served by the company. The company put in a petition signed by 120 people supporting its application.

The company also offered: “That in the event of the authority granting this application, the company is prepared to undertake not to cater for tram passengers on any of the company’s routes.” “This is the one thing I don’t like about their application, this undertaking to observe the regulations.” remarked Miss Ellen Melville. “We can look after our own interests.” Mr. A. J. Entrican, however, thought the offer to cease competition with the trams was a very important one from their point of view. Mr. E. J. Phelan: “Are you speaking as a councillor, or as a member of the licensing authority?” Eventually the licence was granted the Passenger Transport Company on condition that the timetable and fares should be subject to adjustment between the company and representatives of the authority.