MR. ALLUM DEFENDS TRANSPORT CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 14

MR. ALLUM DEFENDS TRANSPORT CONTROL

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMENT When Mr. A. G. Lunn, reporting on behalf of the executive to the Chamber of Commerce Council yesterday, mentioned that the Railway Department was no more the proper authority to deal with the Dominion’s transport problems than was the Auckland City Council the proper body to deal with Auckland’s metropolitan transport, he brought an immediate protest from Mr. J. A. C. Allum. “I must ask that that be deleted from the report,” said Mr. Allum. “This council is totally unaware of the position of the transport of the city, and I take the comment as a personal reflection on myself, as chairman of the City Tramways Committee.” The Chairman, Mr. A. G. Lunn: There is no need for you to get that impression. It was never intended by the committee. We have no comment whatever to make on the efficiency of the city tramways. Mr. Allum: Well, we will say «it is not courteous to the council, at a time when they are under grave' difficulties. Mr. Lunn remarked that metropolitan transport was not solely the concern of the City Council. There were some 33 bodies interested in it. Was it right that the Tramways Department should dictate to the other bodies? They were not in any shape hitting at the council. It was the principle of the thing. Mr. Allum said that much of the comment arose because of people not understanding the position. The other local bodies had deeded the city the right to run the services, and he had never heard of any occasion on which the outside bodies wanted to take a part in the business. There might be comment but he was referring to the position of the responsible bodies. He did not desire to put the City Council on a pedestal but he had to protect it. “If the Chamber of Commerce thinks that there should be an inquiry I will be only too delighted to give it every assistance, and to abide by its decision, whatever it may be,” asserted Mr. Allum.

Eventually the meeting decided to amend the report, and to make the analogy as follows: “The Railway Department is no more the proper authority to deal with the Dominion's transport than is any other party to a dispute, the proper authority to deal with the merits of the question at issue. Mr. Allum: Excellent!