ALL SATISFIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 236, 5 October 1928, Page 7

ALL SATISFIED.

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT BILL.

RETURN OF DELEGATES. FRIENDLY DELIBERATIONS. DESIRE FOR SATISFACTORY SOLUTION". Members of the delegations from the Auckland City Council and Auckland suburban local bodies, who visited Wellington in connection with the Auckland Transport Bill, which is due to come before Parliament this afternoon, comment upon- the good feeling which marked the discussions held and the general desire expressed to arrive at a common understanding which would be in the best interests of the public of Auckland city and suburbs. "The Auckland members of Parliament, irrespective of party, also the Prime Minister, did all in their power to assist in getting the bill placed before Parliament," said Mr. 3. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Auckland City Council Tramways Committee, this morning. Mr. Allum added that the deliberations throughout were of the most friendly nature, and there was a keen desire to arrive at some satisfactory and complete understanding. He did not say that the passage of the bill was going to remove all of Auckland's transport difficulties, but it would mean that the public would have a voice in the control of any transport undertaking. At the various conferences held at Wellington all the delegates did their best in tackling the problem, and there was a sincere desire to get on with the job and find a solution. Mr. Allum said that he regarded it as a very successful mission. The boundaries of the transport area would be those fixed by the commission, but there would *be provision in the bill for the adding of additional areas on the lines followed by power boards when there was an expressed desire by any particular district for inclusion within the scope of the larger body. In reply to a question as to what the next steps would be, Mr. Allum said that there would have to be a meeting of the Auckland City Council to confirm the action of the city delegation, and then agreement to the v transport board proposal would have to be sought by polls in both the city and suburban areas.

Result of Many Discussions. "I regard the settlement which has been arranged as very satisfactory," said the Mayor of Mount Eden (Mr. E. H. Potter), who was the leader of the Auckland suburban delegation. Mr. Potter said that, as a result of many discussions between the representatives of the city and suburban delegations with the Auckland members of Parliament and the Prime Minister, a complete understanding was reached. It was made clear from the start that with the session at a very .late stage it would be practically impossible to get any measure through Parliament unless there was agreement among all the parties concerned. Matters that were raised with the bill as originally drawn were the length of period of the nominated members of the board, the question of franchise upon which future boards would be elected and areas which might be admitted in the future. Many suggestions were put forward, and the various difficulties which arose were onlv disposed of after very careful and earnest discussion. The decisions finally reached would be embodied in the proposed Act. Provision would be made for a board of ten members, two from each of the districts named by the Transport Commission. The nominations decided upon would be reviewed in May next, when the nominees may be reappointed. The nominated board remains in force until May, 1931, when a board will be elected on the same franchise upon which the councillors of the respective districts are elected. Mr. Potter said that in connection with a new district desiring to come into the transport area, provision for inclusion had been made, and the question of representation would be decided by the board. Provision was made in the Act for the payment of reasonable costs incurred by the local bodies in connection with transport and the promoting of the legislation. Provision was likewise made for private concerns already operating. The Act would not operate until approved by resolution of the Auckland City Council, and then a poll of the city ratepayers agreeing to transfer the tramways undertaking to the board. A poll of ratepayers in the outer area would also be taken. In conclusion, Mr. Potter said that he could not say too much of the attention of the Prime Minister in helping to bring about a satisfactory conclusion, and making it possible for the bill to go before Parliament before the present session was concluded.