LICENCES GRANTED

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

LICENCES GRANTED

NORTH SHORE TRANSPORT MEETING AT DEVONPORT The No. 2 Omnibus Licensing Authority, at its meeting at Devonport last evening, approved the policy of the freedom of the road for omnibus services at Birkenhead when it granted permits which provide three bus services in that borough, where two formerly existed. Mr. G. W. Sutcliffe, previously granted a permit to run to Albany from Birkenhead Wharf, was given permission to extend this service to cater for residents between the wharf and Pupuke Road. Mr. A. M. Gould, who appeared for the Blue Star Bus Coy., intimated that his clients would not oppose the application, but wanted fair competition. Mr. Alderton, for Mr. Sutcliffe, said an agreement as to fares had been made. Mr. Gould drew attention to the fact that an unlicensed bus was running at Birkenhead. Mr. R. W. Thomas, appearing for the owners of this bus, Messrs. Watson and Lynch, pointed out that Mr. Gould’s , clients, in defiance of their licence were running without charging a penal fare. Messrs. Lynch 'and Watson were granted a service permit to run from Birkenhead Wharf to Highbury Corner and Pupuke Road. Mr. Gould objected to the applicants being allowed to “pick the plums” out of the service by failing to provide services to the outer districts. The Blue Star Motor Service, Ltd., at Birkenhead, was granted permission to run without the penal fare previously imposed by No. 1 Authority, the mover, Mr. T. Walsh, stating it righted a longstanding wrong. The North Shore Transport Coy, Ltd., was given authority to run 10 extra trips between Devonport and Milford and to start the buses from Milford five minutes earlier than at present. The Waitemata Bus and Transport Co., Ltd., was allowed to reduce its fares and vary its sections.