MOTOR' BUSES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 118, 4 October 1912, Page 4

MOTOR' BUSES.

I* the course of a flying visit to Palmerston North last week, Mr. G. Hamilton ■Grapes, A.M.1.A.E., gave a representative of the Manaivatu Daily Times some,interesting information concerning the remarkable development of the motor 'bus. Incidentally lie remarked that Palmerston North presents absolutely the best prospects for the success of a well-equip-ped motor 'bus service of any town in the Dominion. Mr. Hamilton Grapes is of opinion that the ratepayers of Palmerston North have made a grave mistake in deciding to instal an electric tram system. 'T, presume," he said, "that the blame must be laid upon the shoulders of a certain section of the ratepayers who are entirely unacquainted with the giant stxides this young public service motor transport movement has made within tlie past two years, not only:in such large cities as London, Paris a.nd Berlin, but in the provinces in the Old Homeland and in the overseas dominions of the Empire. In London to-dav the shares (£100) of the L.G.O. Co. stand at £4(10, while three years ago they stood at £l9. Advice from the English provinces dated July 27 states that Mr. Spencer, consulting engineer, of London, after having made an expert examination of the conditions pertaining to Blyth relative to the further construction of tramways, has reported against the scheme and also that of the installation of railless trolley 'buses, and advises instead a system of specially constructed motor 'buses. The Borough Council are therefore taking action to give effect to his recommendation. Again,

at Southend at important decision was arrived at toy the Borough Council at their July meeting, with but one dissentient. They agreed to a report presented by the Tramways Committee as to the desirability of taking steps to provide additional facilities for public conveyances by means of motor 'buses. The committee stated that they had again considered the report prepared by the Electrical Engineer upon the question of light railway extensions and tlie provision of railless trolley cars or motor 'buses, and are of opinion that motor 'buses, owing to their mobility, would toe the most convenient manner of linking up the existing tramways and of providing a subsidiary service to the various parts of the borough not served by tramways. It was resolved that the corporation should provide and run such services."