STANLEY POINT BUSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 310, 22 March 1928, Page 18

STANLEY POINT BUSES

PERMIT GRANTED TO MR. BEARSLEY THREE APPLICATIONS LODGED Considerable interest was evinced in the decision that the No. 2 Omnibus Licensing authority was to make last evening regarding three applications for permits to run buses from Stanley Point to Devonport Wharf. The North Shore Transport Co., Ltd. (Mr. Alderton), which succeeded the Yellow Buses, has carried on the school bus service to North Shore Grammar School from Stanley Bay, established by its predecessor. It applied last evening for permission to run a full bus service from Second Avenue, Stanley Point, to Devonport Wharf, at a fare of threepence, or a concession card fare of 2s 6d for 12 trips. Mr. Alderton said his company had a bus fleet probably better than anything else in New Zealand or Australia, and was in a position to cater for the district. A service permit for the route had been granted by No. 1 Authority to the Yellow Buses, but as the concreting of Calliope Road had not then been completed the service was limited to conveying school children. At present a type of vehicle called a motorette was carrying on the service, but without an omnibus licence, or without insurance on the passengers, and ran only over part of the route. The application was opposed by Mr. A. B. Bearsley (Mr. Fraer), and Messrs. Young and Hustler, owners of the two car services now operating. Mr. Fraer stated that he and Mr. Alderton had agreed that there was room for one service only, and there would be no ill-feeling whoever obtained the licence. His client was up against vested interests, and he considered that, as a pioneer of the service, he should have preference. Mr. Alderton disputed the claim to pioneering the service. His company had been on the road long before Mr. Bearsley started. Whoever was granted the licence should have to provide school . students’ transport. Hitherto his company had carried it on at a loss. The full service would give them an opportunity to earn extra revenue. Messrs. Young and Hustler, the latter being concerned in the ownership of the vehicle which Mr. Bearsley runs on the present service, also denied the pioneership claim. They had sunk capital in providing the services, which would not carry more than sevenseater cars. As soon as the service warranted, they would put on a bus. The chairman of the licensing authority, Mr. J. Hislop, moved that a permit be granted the North Shore Transport Co.. Ltd. It was obviously the only applicant that could adequately serve the district. After a lengthy discussion. a licence was granted Mr. A. B. Bearsley by six votes to three. His time-table provides for 11 trips daily to Second Avenue, and 28 to Glen Road (portion of the route). He proposes to use a bus. The application of Messrs. Young and Hustler, not having been advertised. was adjourned.