UNDER NEW COLOURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 29, 27 April 1927, Page 9

UNDER NEW COLOURS

TAKAPUNA FERRY DENIAL OF “HOLD UPS” AGITATED RESIDENTS The Devonport Steam Ferry Coy., Ltd., commenced its new service to Bayswater to-day. The funnels of the Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Coy., Ltd., assumed the Devonport Company’s colours this morning. Interest is centred in the Borough Council election at Takapuna to-day as it is being fought on the ferry issue; The question to be decided is whether the council should endeavour to purchase the Takapuna Company’s steamers and tramway, with a view to electrifying the latter. If the mayor, Mr. J. D. Morison, is returned with a sufficient majority this policy will be followed. Should the “ opposition ” be succesful, however this proposal will be dropped. “ Absolutely untrue,” and “ a deliberate attempt to influence the issue before * the electors,” was the comment of Mr. G. E. Alderton, solicitor for the Devonport Company, when questioned as to rumoured “ hold-ups ” in the new service this morning. Mr. Alderton declared that the company was in a position to deal with the whole of the traffic. There had been no suggestion of a delay. “The whole thing is propaganda deliberatelycirculated against us,” he said. He also characterised as untrue a statement that the Devonport Company was not honouring the tickets issued by its predecessor. “ Another lie,” said Mr. Alderton. “ The officials of the company have been instructed to accept all tickets issued by the Takapuna Company.” On the other hand, Mr. H. J. Preston, who was a passenger via Bayswater this morning, asserted that the Devonport Company’s service was “ inadequate to deal with peak loads.” He had seen instanc<s3, he said, where the company’s officials had refused to accept the 12-trips through ticket. “ If this sort of thing is going to continue it will mean that residents will leave the North Shore,” said Mr. Preston, who instanced how he had waited to see bus after bus pass Hauraki and Clifton Roads. “It was quite impossible to get a seat,” he added, “ and in consequence I arrived in town at 25 minutes to 10 o’clock. Some Takapuna residents, declared Mr. Preston, did not reach the city until 10 o’clock.. Conflict is still raging as to the legality or otherwise of the Takapuna Borough Council’s option. The Devonport Company’s purchase excluded the tramways and plant. “It is a valid and binding document,” says Mr. A. ; St. Clair Brown, the chairman of the Takapuna Company.

The document according to Mr. E. H. Northcroft, senior counsel for the Devonport Company, is too loosely and vaguely worded to be enforced.