GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 10

GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER

NEW PASSENGER SERVICE FIRM AT NEW PLYMOUTH

Hodson's Motor Service, which has been operating a passenger service between Wanganui and New Plymouth for about 15 years, is to be taken over by the Government. The firm will retain the taxi business, service station and garage. It is expected that the Government will opera te the Wanganui-New Plymouth service as from next week. Six cars are used in the passenger service between Wanganui and New Plymouth by Hodson's Ltd., three trips being run daily from Wanganui and two from New Plymouth. When the new Government-owned link is begun there will be a through State road passenger service from Wellington to New Plymouth. Mr. T. Hodson established the first motor service on the west coast between Wanganui and Marton 23 years ago. This service catered for passengers travelling to and from the Main Trunk express. The Marton service was discontinued by ihe firm several years ago, leaving the firm of Martin and Vernon operating on that route and also between Wanganui and Palmerston North. It is about ten years since the Government took over the motor run from Wanganui to Wellington, then operated by S.O.S. Motors Ltd., Wanganui. Since then the Government has gradually taken over goods and passenger services on this coast. Road goods services which operated between Wanganui' and Wellington were taken over by the Government several years ago, Hardy's Transport and Wright and Co. disposing of their business to the State. As an economy measure since the war began the Government goods service between Wellington and Wanganui has been maintained by rail, goods being picked up or delivered at each terminal by motor truck. There is a Staterun goods road service between Wanganui and Hawera operated by a Wanganui firm. and a connecting service between Hawera and New Plymouth, which is operated from New Plymouth.