TRAM FARES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 11

TRAM FARES

Proposed Increases In Wellington

AUTHORITY REQUIRED

Application To Be Made To Minister

Application is to be made by the Wellington City Council to the Minister of Industries and Commerce. Air. Sullivan, lor authority to make the proposed increases in tram fares. This decision was made at last night’s meeting of the council on the recommendation of the tramways committee, following a further opinion from the city solicitor. Air. J. O Shea. At its last meeting the council had decided not to refer the question to the Price Tribunal, and Labour councillors last night claimed that the latest decision was a vindication of the attitude they adopted at the previous meeting. The increases proposed are in Sunday fares, an'd a reduction from eight to seven in the number of trips on the one-section concession card. Consent of Minister.

The mayor, Mr. Hislop, said the recommendation was made on the advice of the city solicitor, that the Minister, under the regulations, had authority to approve anv application for increases in fares. At the last meeting the council had decided it would not go to the Price Tribunal, on the advice of Mr. O’Shea that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction. The council was advised now that the application required the consent of the Minister. , "This is an extraordinary position, said Cr. R. McKeen, M.P. “The opinion now given by the city solicitor is a complete reversal of the opinion he gave to the last meeting.” . Cr. McKeen said the issue had created an extraordinary feeling throughout the Dominion, and he felt that a great injustice had been done to the Tribunal. The council’s decision at its last meeting had been a direct challenge to a tribunal set up by the Government. “Now we are told that the Tribunal indirectly does have jurisdiction,” he said. "When the matter is referred to the Minister, it will be referred to the Tribunal. There is no question about .that. It would be better to say a mistake has been made, and refer the matter to the Tribunal. City Solicitor’s Report. *’l asked at the last meeting whether I could have a copy of the city solicitor's report,” said Cr. McKeen. ‘‘l was told I could not. Later on I got in touch with the town clerk, and he said I could not even see the report, because That instruction ha'd been given by Mr. O’Shea. That was rectified at the meeting of the tramways committee the other day. Ido iipt know where we are getting to. I am beginning to think that some of our officers are too zealous in regard to the position they hold, and take up a dictatorial attitude.” A councillor: Hear, hear. Cr. McKeen: 1 understand the position has arisen in England where a local bodv representative has got certain reports for his own individual use. There is no one who will stand for that. Cr. L. S. W. McKenzie said it seemed strange that there were councillors who condemned the zealous officers of the council. He thought that zeal was a good thing sometimes. Cr. R. L. Macalister said he did not think any councillors would make any improper use of reports. He thought Cr. McKeen had been badly treated in the matter. Tom Clerk’s Statement. 'The town clerk, Mr. E. P. Norman, said he had told Cr. McKeen it would he as well to wait till the next meeting of the finance committee as there would be a further report from Mr. O’Shea, in amplification of his original opinion. Cr. C. H. Chapman, M.P., said the city solicitor had! made a volte face. He had altered his first opinion. Cr. Chapman strongly insisted on the right of councillors to access to reports by any heads of departments. Cr. P. M. Butler moved an amendment that the question be referred to the Price Tribunal and not the Minister. Mrs. R. Semple seconded the amendment. Cr. A. Black said recission of' the previous motion not to go to the tribunal was necessary. City Solicitor’s Advice. The mayor pointed out that the motion carried 1 at the last meeting was that the council authorize the increase being put into operation at the earliest date and ruled the amendment out of order. Mr. Hislop reiterated that Mr. O'Shea’s advice at the last meeting of the tramways committee was that the council was bound to submit the matter to the Minister under certain of the ■war regulations. The Minister himself, if he thought fit, could approve the application. A councillor: Or'send it to the tribunal. Mr. Hislop: The Minister can, if he wishes, delegate the matter to the tribunal. The tribunal has no authority unless the Minister delegates his authority to it. The tribunal has no direct jurisdiction. Cr. M. Fraser said the position was most unfortunate. At the same time the Minister could take what advice he liked but the Minister’s approval was necessary. The fares could not be put into operation without the Minister’s authority under present advice. Approach to Tribunal. Cr. W. Dunean suggested the council should go straight to the tribunal. Mr. Hislop said Cr. Eraser bad stated the position accurately. 'The Minister could if he wished get the advice of the tribunal. Mr. O’Shea said his opinion was that tiie tribunal had no original jurisdiction. He had not reversed his opinion —be had only discovered something he had not discovered before. Cr. Macalister said 'he had some sympathy with the city solicitor as there were many regulations coming out. ‘■This is just a backdoor method of getting to the tribunal and the council might as well go direct to it,” said Cr. Butler. The recommendation of the committee was adopted without a. division.