PRIME MINISTER HELPLESS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1926, Page 4

PRIME MINISTER HELPLESS

CANNOT SETTLE AUCKLAND DISPUTE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 9 “1 must confess that you have me licked to a frazzle when it comes to settling difficulties in Auckland. You don’t seem to agroo on anything.” This was the despairing cry of Mr Coates to-day as he threw up his arms and gave up trying to settle for the Auckland delegates to the motor regulations conference the question of representation on a eo ni mil tee. The remark followed a debate in which healthy rivalry was revealed between the delegates from the respective centres. Some good-natured criticism of municipal administration was ventilated by ’litis proprietors, who wore endeavouring to show (lie efficacy of the ’bus as a menus of transport. Mr Gray Campholl, of the Auckland omnibus proprietors, vifas advancing the cause of the private ’bus when he was provoked to a quiet thrust against Ihe Auckland City Council. In icpU to Mr Conics, lie said that much of the people's money had been expended injudiciously, in spite of the anxiety ol the council to protect ihe people’s interests.

In >•'spouse to a cry from Auckland delegates, Mr Campbell replied, “Wo have a fish market in Auckland (laughter) upon which we spent L’KMiO. We also have a city square, upon which we have so .far expended IJIZ.IUO. On city ’buses a loss of £s(li)il was occasioned in the first six months of operation.” Mr Coaies; It seems that the Auckland City Council cannot do anything right.

I Mr Cam] hell; Oh, yes. Wo have j good roads, hut the council refused to j grant the petition of 50.001) to have j ’buses run in Queen Street. | Mr Coates: Very wise, J think, j This brought to his feet another | Auckland delegate to refute the eritieism. While the ’lnis proprietors oomj plained, he said, the were all the time ; usurping the rights of the tramways I by running just ahead and creating a I menace to the people.