BUS ALTERATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 568, 22 January 1929, Page 13

BUS ALTERATIONS

MR. FORD’S PROPOSALS PITT STREET TERMINUS The tramway manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, is of opinion that all western bus services should end at Pitt Street, cutting out the Surrey Crescent terminus during normal loading, and the through trips to Civic Square during rush hours. This was contained in a report to the Transport Board this, afternoon, and is yet to be considered by the board. Mr. Ford reported that although the proposals would mean running alongside trams for a distance, it would be compensated for by reason of increased facilities for passengers, and the elimination of the heavy grade into the city. The Blockhouse Bay’ buses, he recommended should be run via Manukau or Taylor Roads and Great North Road to Pitt Street. UNIFORM FARES In order to bring all the omnibus fares into uniformity, Mr. Ford recommended a new scale, allowing cash fares for each section, and concession fares with a reduction of 25 per cent. He also recommended that the tickets be different from tram tickets, allowing a better check on bus revenue. NO WORKERS’ TICKETS The new scale cuts out all workers’ weekly, apprentice, return and combined bus and tram tickets. Mr. Ford anticipated objections from the Henderson district about workers’ tickets, but pointed out that there was a good train service with cheap fares. Fewer buses would be required to Henderson, and a more frequent service could be given to the more thickly populated areas nearer to the city.

Mr. Ford set out ten reasons for preferring the more simple and uniform rate of fares.

In a summary Mr. Ford stated that the proposed alterations, including discontinuance of the Hutchinson Avenue bus and rearranging the service of the Smith Street bus, New Lynn, would result in a saving of 252 bus miles daily on the old G.O.C. routes. He estimated that the saving would be £ 4.386 annually, but he admitted the difficulty of accurately forecasting receipts. He considered that the services would be more popular, and that the receipts would be better than estimated.

He expressed himself as in favour of allowing private enterprise beyond the board’s boundaries. *