TRAMS AND BUSES.

Wairarapa Age, 15 March 1927, Page 5

TRAMS AND BUSES.

COMPENSATION CIAIM AT GISBORNE.

BOROUGH ASKED TO BUY OUT BUS PROPRIETOR.

GISBORNE, March 14.

Before the Compensation Court today, was heard the first claim in Gisborne dealing with the municipal ownership of publie transport services. The claim was that of Lewis John Coham against the council to purchase, under the provisions of Section 15 of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926, the motor omnibus and .other property of the claimant for the sum of £3230.

Mr. C. T. Burnard, appeared for the claimant and Mr. H. D. Chrisp for the Borough Council.

Mr. W. A. Barton sat with His Honour Mr. Justice Ostler as assessor for the council, and Mr. T. S. Harper as assessor for the claimant.

Prior to tho hearing of evidence, Mt. Chrisp contended that there was no. substantial competition between buses and trams, the business done by each was so slight as not to warrant the term “competition.”

Detailed evidence was given by a tramway conductor and by passengers as to the number of passengers carried on the trams and buses.

His Honour asked Mr. Chrisp if he contended that where competition was to the benefit of the buses there could be no claim for compensation. Mr. Chrisp agreed that that was his contention.

His Honour said he could not find that in the Act. No doubt, he said, that is what the Act should say, but it is not the way it reads. AU the Act required to be proved was that substantial competition existed. Later in tho proceedings, His Honour stated that it had been proved to the satisfaction of tho Court that the competition was substantial. For that reason, even though 'he buses had all the benefit of the competition, the Court could adopt no other course but to proceed with the hearing of the claim.

Evidence was then given as to tho Value of the plant, which comprised four buses. His Honour announced that his decision would probably be delivered on the following morning.— (P.A.). .