WAIRAKEI BUS TERMINAL AGAIN BEFORE COUNCIL

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 131, 30 July 1954, Page 5

WAIRAKEI BUS TERMINAL AGAIN BEFORE COUNCIL

TRANSPORT DEPT. "UNABLE TO ASSIST" About a year ago the Taupo Businessmen's Association approached the Taupo Town Board, asking for its support in their endeavours to have the bus service terminal at Wairakei moved to Taupo.

In July, 1953, the Town Board received a letter from Mr C. D Pederson, District Officer, Transport Department, Auckland, stating that, the matter was bound up with ohe licences of the Hawke's Bay Motor Co„ Ltd., which terminate at Wairakei, and that these licences Qid not come under his jurisdiction.

The position of the Businessmen's Association at that time was tnat ihe establishment of the bus terminal at Wairakei was unwarlanted. It meant that Taupo residents travelling north had to wait at Wairakei while through passengers lunched there, or hire a taxi to Wairakei, and that double -reight charges on parcels from Taupo had to be paid, one payment to the H.B. Motor Company and one to the N.Z. Road service.

Town Board members commented that, during the Second World War period, the terminal had been Taupo, and that an arrangement had then been made between the Motor Company, which held the licence to Wairakei, and the N.Z. Road Service. It was considered that if the terminal then could be sitpated at Taupo, it could be at piesent, and also that it was rediculous that the terminal should be five miles from a town the size of Taupo.

F in then Letter From Department At last week's meeting of the Borough Council, the Town Board's successor, the matter was taken a stage further by a.further letter from the Transport Department's District Officer in Auckland, dated July 16, 1954. This stated that considerable discussion had taken place on the subject with the N.Z. Road Service and with the H.B. i Motor Co. Ltd. At the same time i epresentacions had been received from the Tourist, Department as to the effect any change (i.e., in the situation of the bus terminal) would have on the business of Hotel Wairakei.

Ihe matter had then been discussed with the Licensing Authority > und as neither of the passenger operators were prepared to seek any amendment to their licences, the Authority had indicated that he was not prepared to initiate any action himself. in the circumstances, so far as the Department was concerned, the letter concluded the District Officer regretted that he was unable to assist the Council. The letter was received, and a resolution moved by Cr J. D, Swan and seconded by Cr C. S. Currie, was carried without dissent to the effect that the Borough Council should be represented at the next meeting of the Transport Licensing Authority at which the licences concerned came up for renewal.