“CITY COUNCIL NEVER MAKES MISTAKES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 9

“CITY COUNCIL NEVER MAKES MISTAKES”

ONLY INDIVIDUALS ERR MR. ALLUM’S PGUCY “Individual councillors make mistakes, but the council as a whole seldom makes a mistake. Matters may be delayed and warmly debated, but in the vast majority of cases the council’s decision is a wise one,” said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, at the Leys Institute, Ponsonby, last evening. “I am quite ready to take the blame for any mistakes for which I may be personally responsible, and in any case I must take my share of blame or praise for all the council’s decisions. My present desire is to give some account of council works and endeavour to explain my attitude on certain matters.

“Keep a suspicious eye on all attempts to municipalise any trade, because it means ruination for the private trader and replacing him with a lot of public servants,” he continued. “Although opposed to municipal trading I do not suggest that the council should hand over the trams and waterworks to private owners. These undertakings, rightly or wrongly, now belong to the people, and it is the duty of every councillor to do his best to make these undertakings a success." Mr. Allum is in favour of Greater Auckland, but does not believe in interfering with outside bodies, from whom all moves to join the city should come. The speaker condemned the legislation dealing with bus competiton. The buses must charge higher fares than trams on account of the higher cost to run—roughly, 50 per cent, for vehicles of equal carrying capacit}'.

“It has been said that the council has adopted increased fares without knowing the financial position of the undertaking,” continued Mr. Allum. “ This is nonsense.” It was realised in November last that it would be necessary to increase the fares to avoid a continuance of loss, but it was decided to await the return of the general manager. He confirmed the necessity (not the desirability) of increasing the fares.

Mr. Allum maintained that the old market site was not the place for a civic centre. That should be on a hill, especially if an art gallery were to be incorporated. He strongly supported the council’s policy of developing the Yarious sources of water supply adjacent to the city. “I a.m not pledged to anyone,” concluded Mr. Allum. “I believe the onlv pledge which should rule a councillor is that given before he takes his seat. He then swears to faithfully and impartially, and without fear or favour judge and deal with all matters which may come before him.”