PASSENGERS NERVOUS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 7

PASSENGERS NERVOUS

DON’T LIKE BUSES BACKING ON WHARF NORTHCOTE PROBLEM Trouble between the Northcote Borough Council and the Waitemata Transport Company was ventilated last evening before the No. 2 (North Shore) Omnibus Licensing Authority sitting at Devonport. Messrs. Rhine and Fraser, representing the bus company, admitted that there was an element of danger in the present system of handling passenger traffic at Northcote Wharf, but claimed that the practice which the company had adopted for the last 10 years was much less dangerous than the scheme proposed by the | Borough Council. Mr. Ellis, of the Northcote Borough Council, and Mr. J. E. Mays, traffic inspector for Northcote, explained that since 1926 there had been attempts to induce the bus company to yield to the complaints made by bus passengers that the method of turning a bus and running in reverse about 150 ft to the wharf head was dangerous. Mr. Mays, who was supported by the inspector to the Licensing Authority, insisted that, the bus driver had no effective control over his bus nor proper vision over the roadway when backing on to the wharf. Mr. Ellis traversed the history of the dispute, mentioning that two years ago the Harbour Board would not agree to the bus company’s proposal to be allowed to use the wharf for a turning space. There were many complaints from passengers apprehensive of danger from the present practice, which was carried out defc>ite the council’s suggestion that all buses should go to the -wharf head to discharge passengers and then, between boats, back uphill, turn round and th»A* • back down to the wharf and be ready to depart. i Mr. Rhine challenged the state- ! ments about complaints being received. ! In 10 years there had not been a single

accident. There was more danger in the council’s scheme and the bus company's insurance carriers had so considered it. The borough had never invited the company to a conference on the subject. Mr. Harold George, for the council, claimed that the matter was one for the Licensing Authority—not for the borough. The chairman, Mr. E. Aldridge, suggested a compromise. He moved that the bus company’s licence be amended to provide that when the number of passengers in the bus exceeded 10, the bus should go head-on to the wharf. Mr. T. Walsh urged caution. It was doubtful if the Licensing Authority had jurisdiction. A better way would be for the parties to confer and make a joint suggestion for amending the present licence. An amendment by Mr. J. Hislop to this effect was adopted.