NO BUS GUARANTEE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 217, 2 December 1927, Page 1

NO BUS GUARANTEE

Local Bodies are Adamant and City Council Disappointed

ALL DEPENDS ON COMMISSION THE City .Councils counter-attack to the avalanche of criticism on metropolitan transport has altered the aspect of the battle, and put the local bodies on the defensive. The local bodies see no necessity for a commission and refuse to. guarantee bus receipts. The city is very disappointed in them.

"V\ T K would have no .iustification in committing ratepayers to the heavy loss involved by guaranteeing a gross return of Is 6d a bus mile, or any other amount to the City Council. “The transport commission suggested by the City Council is unnecessary and would not justify the expense as it would throw no new light on the problem.” These two important decisions were reached by yesterday’s conference of local bodies, including representatives of Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Onehunga, Newmarket, One Tree Hill, Mount Roskill. Ellerslie, New Lynn. Henderson, Glen Eden, Manukau and Waitemata. NO PART IN COMMISSION The conference decided unanimously that no part would be taken by any of the bodies represented in the proposed commission of inquiry. The only remedy for the present unsatisfactory position, it was contended, was the formation of an Auckland metropolitan transport board, a course recommended in the report of the committee presented to the House of Representatives when the motor-bus regulations were introduced. Private enterprise, the conference decided, was providing, and was still prepared to provide, satisfactory service without any guarantee. Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, tvas elected to the chair and discussion was taken in camera. After the meeting, Mr. Potter said that a copy of a letter from a transport company to Cr. J. A. C. Allum had been read. The letter contained an offer to run bus services to some of the outer districts, and, for that purpose, to take back some of the vehicles which had been taken over by the council, from the company, it would be necessary, if that course were agreed to. that some permanence of tenure should be given, as the company would not undertake the building up of a service which had to be given up as soon as it became profitable. Other bus companies were willing to run services to the outside districts

immediately at low fares, said Mr. Potter. A committee consisting of Mr. Potter as chairman and the principals of the local bodies was set up to deal with transport questions. Copies of the resolutions were sent to the Prime Minister and to Auckland members of Parliament. The conference, Mr. Potter explained, had had no communication from the Prime Minister and was acting solely on the basis of newspaper reports. “EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED” HOPES FOR MORE REASONABLE ATTITUDE “It is extremely disappointing to find that the outside local bodies, who have criticised the City Council so seriously, are not prepared to take part in an investigation as to the efficiency, or otherwise, of the council’s transport undertaking,” stated Cr. J. A. C. Allum this morning, referring to the announcements from the local bodies’ meeting yesterday. “From the criticisms we have been led to believe that the local bodies have been desirous of a full investigation into the whole position, in order to support their own contentions. “It is to be hoped that second thoughts will show the interested parties that their obligations to their citizens require them to give every possible facility and assistance to the commission. Their present attitude is remarkable. “So far as the refusal to guarantee a gross revenue is concerned, it is disappointing to find that they will refuse to do anything. Pending the findings of the commission it is scarcely practicable to make any permanent ar rangements, and the proposals, which the Government intends to make to the local bodies, are intended only to tide over the period before any rearrangement made by the commission. It only’ gives the outside bodies an opportunity to secure the service they represent should be provided.” CITY RATEPAYERS FIRST “Will the council continue to run services and stand the loss if there is no alteration in the present attitude” Cr. Allum was asked. “In that event,” he replied, “the council will be free to act as its judg ment directs, and it must, of course, consider its duty to its own ratepayers.” He said that the local bodies would be given further opportunities to consider the position and it was confidently expected that a more reasonable attitude would be taken up. Any assurance to private tenure could not he niven nrinr to the entrimissintL