TRANSPORT PROBLEM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 1

TRANSPORT PROBLEM

COMMISSION DECIDED UPON REPLY FROM MR. COATES The Auckland Transport Commission Has been definitely decided on, according to a telegram received this morning from the Prime Minister by the Mount Eden Borough Council, acting on behalf of the suburban local bodies. The local bodies are therefore shaping their actions accordingly. In reply to the telegram sent after Thursday night’s meeting of the local bodies, the Prime Minister states: “Regret I shall be unable to receive deputation on Monday, March 12, as I shall be in the South Island on that date. I am leaving to-night for the West Coast, Southland and Otago, and will not be returning to Wellington until about March 17 or 18. I may say, however, that the Auckland Transport Commission has already been decided upon, and I see some difficulty in postponing.” In view of this information. Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, is communicating with the other outside bodies, suggesting that the deputation should wait on the Prime Minister about March 19, after, instead of before, the Municipal Conference at Nelson. \ The idea deputation will be to try and impress upon the Prime Minister the necessity of making the first point in the\order of reference, the question of whether there should be an independent transport board for the whole of the transport area. All the outside bodies are unanimously in favour of this action, which, by the way, does not necessarily mean an entire return to private competition. In. the event of the outside bodies giving evidence before the commission, which now- seems probable, all the evidence will be directed to show that there' is an entirely unsatisfactory position, largely due to the city being not conversant with the conditions in the outside areas, and that an independent and elected board would give the outside-areas a proper representation and an opportunity in dealing with the present regrettable position.