CITY’S TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 338, 25 April 1928, Page 1

CITY’S TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Commission Opens Inquiry CONTROL AND FINANCES TWO vital questions will be decided by the Auckland Transport Commission, which begins its sittings in Auckland this morning. These are: Who should control the Auckland buses and trams in the whole metropolitan area in the future? How should the financial liability be spread? The commission has been instructed to answer these questions by May 26 next.

In addition it will deal with a number of aspects which are of extreme importance to the city. The full order of reference is as follows: (a) The adequacy, efficiency and suitability of the existing transport system maintained by the Auckland City Council and other existing transport services, as regards administration, equipment, working and financial provisions. (b) The working and effect in the district of the provisions of the Motoromnibus Traffic Act, lOUtf, and its regulations. (c) The working and effect in the district of other statutes and regulations affecting vehicular transport. (d) The suitability for the district of motor-omnibus transport, either in conjunction with or as an adjunct to tramway transport. (e) The most suitable form of transport for localities within and localities beyond the tram termini; whether services for such localities should be feeder services or through services or a combination of both; whether and to what extent such services should be conducted by local bodies or any other public management or by private enterprise; and whether and to what extent such services should be under the control of local bodies or any other public control. (f) The desirability of establishing a transport board for the district or any part of it, and if so with what constitution, powers of control, powers of undertaking transport services and means of obtaining funds for its purposes, and whether such a board, if established, should take over all or any existing transport services, and if so upon what terms. The commission consists of Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., Wanganui, chairman; Mr. G. T. Goodman, chief engineer and general manager of the Adelaide Municipal Tramways Trust; and Mr. A. Edward, retired superintendent of traffic, Sydney. CITY’S REPRESENTATIVES

There was a big array of legal talent when the sitting began this morning. The city was represented by Mr. A. H. Johnstone and Mr. J. Stanton, city solicitor, as well as by the Mayor Mr. G. Baildon, Cr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Tramways Committee, the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, and the tramways manager, Mr. A. E. Ford.

The outside local bodies had briefed Messrs. V. L. Meredith, E. H. Northcroft, H. M. Rogerson and J. M. Melville, while they were also represented by Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden. Several bodies w*ith private interests, as well as Public Works and Railway Departments, had representatives present. The local bodies officially represented were Mount Roskill, Onehunga, Manukau County Council, Mount Albert, Mount Wellington Road Board, Ellerslie, One Tree Hill, Waitemata County, Mount Eden, Otahuhu, and Glen Eden. Mr. E. Casey, superintendent for the North Island, represented the Railway Department. CITY TO OPEN EVIDENCE Mr. Meredith, in opening, said that the local bodies did not desire the commission, but they had agreed to appear on the request of the Prime Minister to give what assistance they could. Later the question of costs would be affected by this attitude. Discussing the order of procedure, Mr. Johnstone said the City Council would offer evidence on the first clause in the order of reference, enabling the commission to become seized of the whole of the plant and present services. After that there would probably be attacks on the efficiency of the system, and the city would reply to these. Mr. Meredith said the main question so far as they were concerned, was the transport system as it concerned the surrounding districts. He suggested that the council should go as far as possible reserving the right to reply. This was agreed to, and the chairman then intimated the intention of the commissioner to inspect the system before proceeding.' Mr. Stanton expressed a desire for authority to subpoena Mr. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department. The chairman said that this order would be issued if desired. The commission adjourned its sittings until Monday at 10 a.m.