CITY CARS & MOTOR MENACE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1785, 25 June 1913, Page 7

CITY CARS & MOTOR MENACE.

LEGAL BOMBSHELL. LOCAL BODIES ALARMED, PRIVATE CO.'S CHANCES. According lo Mr. T. 11. Martin, solidtor to the Municipal Association of New Zealand, local authorities have no power to establish a motor 'bus service iu tlioil' own streets. It is permissible to establish tramway services—no matter what the power used be—but whatever tho system is it must'bo confined to "traction vehicles which run on rails." Privata persons or companies, however, may rur motor 'bus services by merely complying with the by-laws. Tho question which seems to bo very important lo municipalities owning heavily-capitalised cleotric tramway services, came up yesterday at a meeting of the Executive Comraittco of the Municipal Association of NewZealand. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. J, P. Luke). Mr. W. Downio Stewart (Mayor of Duncdin) in' troduced the subject by moving:— "That, as some doubts havo been raised as to the legal position of local authorities engaged in the conveyance of passengers by means of motor 'buses, tho Government bo urged to amend the Tramways Act in tho direction of giving specific power to any local authority owning or controlling a tramway system to ran, motor 'buses (or any other description of vehicles) as feeders to such system or otherwise."

Mr. Stewart explained tho position which tho Dunedin City Council had found themselves placed in after reocipt , of Mr. Martin's opinion. They had wanted some such moans to test new routes before going to tho length of laying down an expensive tramway track, and were anxious to tako urgent 6teps, ill view of tho possibility of private enterprise stepping in and securing tho most profitable routes among tho outlying portions of the city where settlement was increasing. They must forestall such _ competition, or it might mean tho ruin of their tramway system. Mr. E. P. Uunnv (Hutt) said that they wanted more. They wanted power in general for local bodies to establish a motor 'bus service, independent of any tramway service. , . Mr. 11. Fletcher was qiuto convinced of the seriousness of tho position,' and advocated legislation to prevent such competition. Ho quoted the sad caso of the London County Council, whose rcvenuooarniug powers were being sapped by tiio competition .provided by tho motor bus companies. They did not wish to sco Wellington in such a plight. Hero was a capital 'of 'nearly. £700,000 at stake, which should Ibe protected and safeguarded by. law. If a privato company came along and started motor buses la competition with tho tramvthey simply havo to scrap tho trams. f>o company should be allowed to start buses without the permission and, license of the loc?d authority. Tho chairman created some surprise when he stated that the Tramway Board of Wellington was that day going W lay a recommendation before the Tramways Committee dealing with the wholei question of motor buses,— It had taken the initiative so far as Wellington was concerned in proposing tho adoption oi motor 'busesas feeders to tho system. The. question of, power was very urgent, and, uv his opinion, a great tramway iindcrtßbng i.ucli .as they had. in. .Wellington had laid out so much capital'that it should bo adequately safeguarded by, should bo Within tho power of a muni einalitv to refuso a license to vehicles running in competition with tho traniC. Cathio (Karori) raisei the point of competition between local bodies Ihem6eMrSP: Townsend' (MiramarV asked how it was that local bodies were o owed to run ferry boats, and not motor buses. Mr T. P. Martin said thattlieHou-O of Lords had ruled that .the London County Council was not entitled to ru Stewart's motion was passed in the following form-.— "Thnt the Government bo urged to amend the Tramways Act in direction of giving £i>ec.r>c pove' 'o auy borough council or town boaia, wne ther owning or controlling a tramway pernor not, tern 01 any other description of Mr Fletcher moved:—That tho Government be asked to f o? tho permission and license ot tae ivui a M h i° r S'an ' (Eastbourne) pointed out He beUoved in municipal st % rn p at MaYor remarked that there would VSmiiids" moved as an gS3atr-