“BUSES MUST BE RUN ON BUSINESS LINES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 13

“BUSES MUST BE RUN ON BUSINESS LINES”

CONTROL OF SERVICES MAYOR EMBARRASSED It was a very uncomfortable Mayor who occupicsd the chair at Mr. G. W. Forbes’s political meeting last evening, and listened to the demonstration that was provoked by mention of State and municipal enterprise, as against private enterprise in the conduct of motor omnibus services. It , was a highly embarrassed Mr. ; Baildon who good-naturedly accepted the vigorous chaff of the audience when Mr. Forbes roundly condemned State enterprise in running buses, and expressed a clear view in favour of the operation of private companies. It was during a general critisism of the Government that Mr. Forbes mentioned the Railways Department, and its desire in some districts in New Zealand to run buses as well. “Why,” said Mr. Forbes, “they cannot even run their own railways, so how can they successfully conduct bus services?” This attack on State enterprise in buses appealed to the cr*owd as being particularly amusing, and it was some time before Mr. Forbes could resume amid the laughter and applause with which his remark had been greeted. The Maj’or, Mr. G. Baildon. blushed furiously but took the outburst with good grace. A Voice: They will soon be busted. Another Voice: Ask Baildon. Mr. Forbes: Anyway, the buses should be run on business lines (laughter), and if the department cannot run its railways, what is the use > of asking it to run buses as well? A Voice: Reduce the petrol tax. Mr. Forbes: I am convinced that public opinion in this country has not swung toward the State running buses. (Lord applause and further laughter as the Mayor twisted in his sgat). Mr. Forbes went on mercilessly: It is no use when the business is losing. Suburban traffic can well be carried out by private enterprise (Hurrah, and hear, hear, from the front seat where sat one man who was a prim© mover in the recent controversy on transport). Insistent applause prevented Mr. Forbes from continuing for a while. He then instanced the endeavour of the Railways Department to run buses to Hanmer in the South Island. They had set out to carry the public, and had done so—at a loss of £2,000 a year for two or three years. A private concern stepped in and ran an efficient service for the same fares, and made it pay. Now there was an opposition company starting. “To lose £2,000 a year was the best they could do,” continued Mr. Forbes. A Voice: Our council can beat that (further laughter). A little later in the meeting Mr. Forbes was speaking on the folly of placing into the hands of the Government the power to govern by Order--in-Council. “You have seen what Orders-in-Council will do,” he said, and then, appreciating perhaps for the first time the real embarrassment of the Mayor, he waved his hand in Mr. Baildon’s direction and said: “I know I am treading dangerous ground . . A Voice: Yes, you have roasted him enough. Mr. Forbes: Well; it is not democratic Government to wake up and find that Bus Regulations have been put over you in the night. A Voice: Why Orders-in-Council at all? The Government can do anything it likes in this country. Mr. Forbes: Unlimited powers are being given departmental heads, who really frame the Orders-in-Council.’*