TRANSPORT BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 5

TRANSPORT BILL.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

FIRST BOARD'S TERM.

CITY RATEPAYERS' TOLL.

The Auckland Transport Board Bill, containing 81) clauses, which has becu prepared by the City Council and outside local bodies, follows very closely

the recommendations of the transport C-oinmisison. The district under winch the board will have jurisdiction composes the Auckland city, the boroughs ot Mount Eden, Mount Albert, Newmarket and Onehunga, the Road districts of One Tree Hill. Mount Mount Wellington and the town distrii-'s of Ellerslie and Panmurc. Provision is made for the inclusion of other districts on agreement of the board and the local body concerned. There will be ten members of the board, six representing the city, two representing Mount Eden, Mctint Albert and Newmarket, and the other two the remaining districts.

The first board is to be elected at special meetings of the local bodies concerned. This board will remain in office until April 30. 1932. when half the members will retire, the retiring members being determined by lot. Afterwards half the members retire each third year, th.ose retiring being those longest in olficc. After the first board has been elected the ratepayers will vote for the election of board members. The chairman. who is to receive £2.10 per annum, will hold office in the first board for six: years, and does not go out by lot as his fellow-members. A chairman is to be elected once in every six years. Members are to be paid £1 10/ per meeting or committee meeting, but the payments must not exceed £7S in any Tear.

The hoard is to bo given authority for loan raising by a. vote of tlie ratepayers. and tlie fullest powers of a local authority. When estimated erpenditure exceeds income the hoard is empowered to make up the deficiency hy a levy on the local bodies concerned. All the City Council's tramway and bus business is to he handed over to the board, including loan undertakings and sinking fund?. The board is to have a transport monopoly in its district, but has power to license private buses. Within 42 days of the pa«ing of the Act the City Council is authorised to take a poll of ratepayers on the question as to whether the council will transfer its transport business to tlie board. Tf tlie poll is rejected the Act i= to be invalid.