LOCAL BODIES SEEK CONFERENCE WITH CITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 426, 7 August 1928, Page 13

LOCAL BODIES SEEK CONFERENCE WITH CITY

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

BILL FOR PARLIAMENT After an hour’s discussion in committee, a meeting of suburban local bodies decided last evening j to seek a conference with the City I Council with the object of present- | ing a Bill dealing with the transj port position during the present i Parliamentary session. j Before a veil of privacy was drawn ] over the proceedings the chairman, | Hr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, addressed the 35 representatives present and criticised various phases of the Transport Commission’s report. “The main point of the report is that the commissioners recommended the formation of a transport board, and we may congratulate ourselves on the fact that, to that extent, our contention has been borne out,” he said. "As against this may be set various points in the report to which I, at least, cannot agree.” OMISSIONS DETAILED Represented at the meeting were the following local bodies:—Mount | Roskill, Mount Eden, New Lynn, | Mount Albert, Newmarket, One Tree j Hill*, Manukau County, Mount Well- ! ington, Onehunga, and Ellerslie. ! Apologies were received from Ota- | buhu and Papatoetoe representatives. ! “It is hard to understand the omis- ; sion of New Lynn, Glen Eden and 1 Henderson on one side, and Otahuhu, Papatoetoe, Manurewa and the Mangere Riding of the Manukau County on the other,” said Mr. Potter in detailing his criticism. “These districts have existing bus services which must come under the control of some authority. “The constitution of the board is another question which requires con sideration. The report had much to say about conflicts between local authorities, but it has proposed a board which, in my opinion, would perpetuate these conflicts for all time, for the members are not to represent the whole area, but are to sit for the city or for some outside local bodies.” The point that the report could only afford a basis for legislation was stressed by the speaker, who contended that the first step must be to obtain a conference with the city.

“The matter is of the utmost importance for all of us,” he said, “and we must endeavour to be unanimous so that our just objects may be attained. “STRANGE OUTBURST” “I have said nothing about the strange outburst in favour of Greater Auckland. It was not included in the order of reference, and when our counsel asked whether evidence would he accepted on the question, they were told that it was not necessary. “It is surprising, therefore, to find it made a prominent feature. “There are other statements in the report to which we might take exception, but our present business is to come to an agreement respecting a Bill that shall embody the valuable portions of the report. “I consider that the board system of government will prove successful in dealing with the transport problem, as it will deal with the area and the population in the area. There will be no divisions to consider and the whole area will receive equal treatment. “I understand that the City Council will met to-morrow evening to consider the report, so, in the circumstances, it would not be advisable to give a lead. I think that we should go into committee.” The chairman’s suggestion was accepted and a discussion in committee followed. Evidently a congenial atmosphere was maintained, for frequent outbursts of laughter floated from the chamber. When open meeting was resumed it was announced that an endeavour would he made to obtain a conference with the City Council. The chairman and Messrs. R. C. Clark (One Tree Hill), F. M. Waters (Manukau County), W. L. Titchener (New Lynn), E. F. Jones (Mount Ros kill) and A. Milliken (Ellerslie) were appointed the representatives. The commission’s report will be considered by the City Council this evening.