GREATER WELLINGTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 370, 2 June 1928, Page 1

GREATER WELLINGTON

Efficient Administration

FEW TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Mayor’s Evidence Before Commission

EVIDENCE for the city was heard by the Transport Commission yesterday afternoon when the cross-examination of Matthew Cable and Michael Robert Coyle was concluded. This morning the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, appeared before the commission to answer a schedule of questions prepared for him by the chairman, Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M.

Questioned in regard to Wellington’s trackless trolley bus, Mr. Cable, whose examination was continued yesterday afternoon, said it had been installed in 1924. Its cost was £2,200 and that of the overhead gear was £1,300. Running costs including everything except depreciation was o£d a mile. Depreciation was allowed at 15 per cent, on the vehicle and 4 per cent, on the overhead gear. These worked out at 6d a mile, making a total of 15*d. The run was 60 chains. The car had covered 25,000 miles yearly for the past four years. It gave no trouble whatever, and should have a life of at least 15 years. Witness was examined at length by Mr. Rogerson upon the method adopted in fixing the charge made by the Wellington City Council electricity department for power supplied to the tramways. Mr. Cable said an attempt had been made to show that the Wellington tramways were being supplied with power at less than cost. He stated that the charge included the whole cost of generation end the purchase of power. Witness expressed the view that ■when the tramway power plant was banded over to the electricity department some years ago, the tramways department should have secured a preferential clause in the agreement. Its load was on from early morning until late at night, and it was considerable on Sundays and holidays, when the wheels of industry ceased to run. When the tramway load was combined with the. existing industrial and domestic loads there was a great reduction in cost. He was sure the same thing had happened in Auckland. TRAMS TO POINT CHEVALIER Rs-examined by Mr. Stanton, Mr. Cable said he would have no hesitation in recommending the Auckland City Council to lay down a tramway extension to Point Chevalier, and one at least part of the way from the Mount Aloert terminus to Avondale. He had not considered the Dominion Road and Edendale extensions. The next witness was Michael John Coyle, a member of the City Council, and chairman of the late Point Chevalier Road Board. He gave evidence upon the causes leading to the amalgamation of Point Chevalier with the ci ty. and detailed the development works since carried out in the district by the City Council. Before the commission rose. Mr. Meredith put in a petition from 835 residents of Onehunga, asking that a transport board be set up. EXPENSIVE LOCAL BODIES Answering a number of questions fj*om the chairman. George Alexander Iroup. Mayor of Wellington, considered that he had a fair knowledge both through personal experience and study the mep given him by the commission. He had noted the municipal lJl visions of Auckland, and considered

them as most unsuitable for townplanning purposes. Auckland was not able to administer transport or general affairs efficiently under the present municipal divisions, he said. In the first place, he explained, administration must be more expensive when there are so many local bodies operating. In regard to finance, these small bodies could not raise loans so advantageously as a larger body, if at all. In a larger body; which was not so susceptible to local influences, a better class of man came forward to take office. Also, administrative officers being better paid were more efficient than in the case of smaller bodies. The same position applied to transport control. The division of a compact municipal body into smaller local authorities would increase the difficulty of transport administration. There could be so many differences of opinion between the smaller bodies, each of which would naturally be concerned only with its own district. One body alone should deal with transport problems. Mr. Troup did not consider that the growth of a city to more than 100,000 people clogged municipal machinery with a mass of detail. Answering Mr. Barton’s question as to whether efficient administration in various trading services could be given by one local body controlling all, Mr. Troup said: —“I am chairman of the tramways committee, and am unable to recollect a meeting that ever lasted more than three-quarters of an hour. It is not that we do not consider questions at sufficient length, but because the service is running smoothly under the control of a particularly capable manager. The absorption of' small local bodies into Greater Wellington has been attended with excellent results for all

concerned and has resulted in no clogging of the municipal machine. COUNCIL FOR LICENSING AUTHORITY Mr. Troup admitted that the council had experienced considerable difficulty in its dual role of bus-owner and licensing authority. Complaints had been made and he had a certain amount of sympathy with the objectors. “I think,” he said, “that the licensing authority should be regarded as the chief magistrate of the city with right of appeal to the Supreme Court.” Mr. Barton: I have recorded your opinion, though I hope you will allow me to be heard on it later. Referring to transport in Wellington before the absorption of the local bodies. Mr. Troup said: “We had little difficulty. We charged the local bodies so much- a tram mile on condition that they shared responsibility for traffic loss. In some cases the lines were put down by the local body and the City Council operated the trams. What difficulties we did encounter.

before the establishment of Greater Wellington have, I think, disappeared. There is no lack of harmony. We are bringing too many boards into existence—multiplying them unnecessarily.” BOARD UNSATISFACTORY In reply to Mr. Johnstone, witness said that he thought a transport board would have much more difficulty in controlling transport than would a united municipality. The commission then adjourned until Tuesday morning. “THE LADY OF RIGA” EXCHANGE OF LEGAL WIT At the Transport Commission this ! morning Mr. V. R. Meredith, for the , suburbs, questioned the chairman, Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., on the references made by the counsels for city to "‘Greater Auckland.’ Mr. Meredith said that city witnesses had given evidence on the absorption of the suburbs, and he would like to call evidence, if it was thought necessary, to show opinions held in regard to amalgamation by the local bodies. "It reminds me,” he said, “of the old limerick: "There was a young lady of Riga, Who went for a ride on a tiger, They returned from the ride With the lady inside And a smile on the face of the tiger. "None of the suburban bodies are wishful to take the air with the city tiger.” For the city, Mr. J. Stanton said that the "Greater Auckland” scheme was* brought forward as a counter to the suburbs’ proposal of a transport control board. Although he could make no official announcement at presen:, Mr. Barton said that he would explain bis ideas on the subject by replying: to Mr. Mere- j dith’s limerick with another: "There was an old lady of Riga, Who tamed what she thought was a tiger: She made it a friend, And from then to the end •'I am offering a prize for ifae beet 1 liAtah," he cyiiciiLflecl. - - ... ■ . -1