ONEHUNGA NOT ASKED TO GIVE EVIDENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 373, 6 June 1928, Page 18

ONEHUNGA NOT ASKED TO GIVE EVIDENCE

TRANSPORT CONFERENCE “SLAP” OR COMPLIMENT? “It is a slap at the Mayor, and a slap at Onehunga,” said Councillor F. C. Morton at last evening’s meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council, referring to the fact that no representative of Onehunga had been selected with the other suburban local bodies who conferred with the Auckland Cjty Council regarding the transport question. I Councillor Morton said that he did not know what steps could be taken now, but Onehunga’s case should have been placed before the Transport Commission, and he moved that the commissioners be notified that Onehunga had not been given an opportunity of stating its case, and that i\. be given permission to be heard. Also, that the suburban bodies’ delegates be advised that Onehunga had been overlooked. TOOK IT AS COMPLIMENT The Mayor said that he took it as a compliment to Onehunga that he had not been asked to give evidence. It signified that Onehunga was satisfied with the existing transport system. He had had no instructions from the council to present any grievance to the commissioners, and he was not going to give evidence without a mandate.

The only resolution passed by the council was the refusal to accept any liability in connection with taking over the trams.

“Does the council expect me to sit on the commission’s doorstep for five or six weeks, waiting to be called to give evidence?” asked Mr. Coldicutt. Councillor E. Morton: If we have to pay we should have a say. Councillor Moor: Who elected the representatives of the suburban locaJ bodies to meet the City Council?

Nobody could tell him, but the Mayor said that he . had heard nothing about it, and had not been requested to attend. His private views were totally opposed to those of Councillor F. C. Morton but he gave his casting vote in favour of the motion.