THE STATE AND MUNICIPAL TRAMWAYS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3112, 16 June 1917, Page 8

THE STATE AND MUNICIPAL TRAMWAYS

.' AN. AUCKLAND .REQUEST. By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, June 15. ■ A request was made by a deputation . from the City Council to the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. Fraser) that the powers of control over tramway systems, transferred to tho Department by the Act of 1910, should be restored to the local authorities. Mr. Eraser said he recognised that 'Auckland was in a different position from the other centres. When tho municipalities owned the tramways the local bodies of thoso centres could hardly be trusted with the regulation of ■ businesses which it was partly to their interest should be made to pay. Tho regulations were made under the Act for the whole of the Dominion, but before being gazetted the war broke out, and rules suitable for normal times could not well bo applied to present abnormal conditions. They would, however, be put in force as soon as matters returned to normal. "While he would submit the view of the deputation to Cabinet, Tie did not think that there was tho. slightest hope that Parliament would consent to discuss such a matter during war time. The chango could be brought about only by legislation, even if the Government approved it.