BUS LICENSING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 782, 1 October 1929, Page 11

BUS LICENSING

TRANSPORT BOARD UNDER MISAPPREHENSION SERVICES TO RACES “I think the Transport Board was under a misapprehension when it sent out a circular to bus owners suggesting that they may be running a risk in operating unlicensed services to race meetings,” said Mr. V. R. Meredith, who appeared at this morning’s meeting of the board on behalf of certain bus owners. Mr. Meredith was withdrawing a number of applications for licences to run services to races. He said the board was evidently acting under a misapprehension arising out of a recent judgment by Sir Alexander Herdman. Bus owners apparently thought, as a result of the board’s circular that they had to take out a special licence for race services. Mr. Meredith said there was no need totally licence other than those granted by the City Council about a year ago in its capacity as the No. 1 Licensing Authority, and preserved by the Auckland Transport Board Act, 1925. The board now had no right to interfere. “Apparently a situation has arisen which was not contemplated,” remarked the chairman of the board, Mr. J. A. C. Allum. “The board did not approach these owners in an unfriendly spirit.” Mr. Meredith said he felt the board had acted in a well-intentioned spirit, but was mistaken. Mr. Allum said he had been advised that no licence to operate special race services existed in the original licence by the No. 1 Authority. A bus owner, Mr. L. W. G. Grieves, said he had no intention of withdrawing his application. He had always run to the races from Pitt Street. A complaint from Mr. E. H. Potter that ordinary tram services were neglected on race days drew a reply from Mr. Ford that all services were fully maintained. In any case peak periods and rush-hours were not coincident. Mr. F. S. Morton said race days certainly affected car services on the Manukau Road, specially on days when races were held at Alexandra Park. “The department is very proud about the way it handles cars at Alexandra Park,” replied Mr. Ford. It was admitted that facilities were not as good as might be desired, and that cars were held up for short periods by race traffic, but for the most part there yas little interference. ' “May I suggest that you withdraw your application, or I shall have to move that it be declined because you are competing with the board’s services,’’ said Mr. Allum. Applicant agreed and the board decided to hold over the request for one month. “It is not fair that the transport of passengers to the Ellerslie Racecourse should he confined to the board’s vehicles,” declared Mr. Meredith on behalf of the Suburban Bus Company. He contended that the board had insufficient. vehicles to cope with the traffic. The board should not have a monopoly. It was because certain bus owners were able to participate in race traffic that they were able in other times to maintain less profitable services. There was no doubt that private owners were making inroads into the board’s revenue in this connection and there was also no doubt that the board disliked applications from private individuals. “I cannot allow you to say that," protested the chairman. “The fact that the board operates its own services does not affect its judgment.” The transport manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, said the board had ample vehicles for the handling of race traffic. A number of its bus services had had to he cancelled because of private operators. During the last few race meetings there had been an excess of cars.

Mr. Allum said the board ha dto protect the publicly-owned undertaking, and it had been suggested that private owners should be permitted to make inroads on the undertaking. That should not be sanctioned unless it could be shown that the board was not giving adequate service.