DEADLOCK AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 457, 12 September 1928, Page 1

DEADLOCK AGAIN

City Councillors Fail To Placate Outside Local Bodies AUCKLAND’S TRANSPORT PROBLEM Mr. E. H. Potter: If you will not consider the setting up of a Transport Board, it is useless for us to remain. The Mayor of Auckland: If that’s the position it is as far as we can go. I, for one, have not come along to say “The Board or nothing.” I thank the members of the deputation and the Council members. Mr. Potter: We are not here as a "deputation.” The Mayor: Did I use that word? . . .

Preceded and followed by a babble of informal conversation, the meeting of local body representatives and City Council members last evening got very little further forward in finding a solution of Auckland’s transport problem. A deadlock was reached speedily, and the discussion served only to throw definite light on the attitude of the council as a whole. Within an hour after the proceedings had begun, _ it had become evident that neither side was prepared to give , way. As the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, was opening the meeting, two men seated themselves in the public gallery. “I must ask you to retire, gentlemen,” said the Mayor. “This meeting is in committee.” ‘‘This is an adjourned meeting, and was open to the Press on the last occasion,” said Cr. W. H. Murray. “If it is open to the Press, is it not open to the public?” The Mayor: That is my ruling: and I suggest that you cannot challenge it. As Cr. A. J. Entrican rose to speak, Mr. J. K. Lundon stepped into the gallery and disappeared, apologising politely when requested by the Mayor to leave. GREATER AUCKLAND Cr. Entrican said that the Greater Auckland scheme was admittedly the ideal one. The editor of “Life” in Australia had called attention to the overgovernment of the Commonwealth, and it was the same in Auckland. There were far too many local bodies. Ten bodies had been wiped out by the Greater Auckland scheme, and they believed that this policy should continue. It was peculiar that the boundaries of the transport area should be the boundaries dreamed of by Sir George Grey. It had been said that the city had paid too much for the trams, but the commission had found that the amount was not too great and that the system was a good one, run efficiently and well. The council should not be asked to give such a system to the Transport Board until it received a mandate from the people. It should see what the ratepayers thought, and the way to do this was to ask them for

sufficient money to develop the system. It was true that they had turned this down before, but the council could put it to them that, either they must develop the system through the council, or hand it over to someone who would. The council was justified in postponing its decision until this opinion was obtained. There appeared to be some feeling between the outside local bodies and the City Council, but the council wanted to meet the bodies in every possible way. Pending the poll there was no reason why the outside bodies should not have three members on the Tramway Committee. If the poll were accepted it would be quite a proper thing to have a new licensing authority on the lines recommended by the commission—the City Council six representatives and the outside bodies four. If, on the other hand, the citizens did uat accept, he thought that the council would be prepared to promote legislation to give effect to the commission’s recommendations. Cr. J. W. Kealy suggested that, as the council had not discussed Cr. Entrican’s suggestion and no official view could be given, each councillor should give his views. MR. POTTER REPLIES “The question before the meeting is the transport problem—not the amalgamation of local bodies,” said Mr. E. H. Potter, answering Cr. Entrican on behalf of the outside bodies’ representatives. “Sir George Grey never believed in one central body controlling Auckland from the Manukau to the Waitemata. The area of the Transport Board is too great for one local body, and it will increase as Auckland grow r s. The council does not realise the position. Some outside services are cut off, and others are inadequate. It has been told that half the buses are done and the other half will be done in a few years’ time. It is some years since a new tram was put on the road. Are you maintaining the tracks or is this to be done by another unemployment loan? The delay will lead to a very serious position in about 12 months’ time. The findings of the commission were all in accordance with the evidence of the outside local bodies . . . Cr. J. A. C. Allum: Would you please repeat that? Mr. Potter did so, adding: “That is why the council is making so much resistance.” He said that the position which had arisen was evidence of the growth of Auckland, but, instead of helping it, the council was doing the opposite. “If you will not consider the Transport Board, it is useless for us to remain.” he continued. “You cannot get over the fact that there are Serious losses by business men . . .” A Voice: Land dealers. ”... cottage owners and land owners because of the non-support of transport . . .” A Voice: Because of high rates. “ . . . High rates can be adjusted, and can be reduced by a good transport system. Much has been said about the tramway areas, but we are considering the whole transport area.” THE OBVIOUS POSITION Cr. Allum said he thought it was obvious to those present that the majority of the council had decided against the Transport Board. Would the outside bodies object to private enterprise taking over the outside services, right to the city? He had said before that the council was not desirous of relinquishing the licensing authority, but he did think that it should

THE SUN Stop Press

be representative of all interests. Mr. Potter replied that he did not intend to answer the question unless the council was prepared to consider the question of setting up a Transport Board. The Mayor: If that’s the position. it’s as far as we can go._ I think the council has gone as far as it could do without a mandate. Till then, I can say here and how that 1 am not prepared to accept a Transport Board. Cr. Kealy asked Mr. Potter what objectionhe! ha.d to the council putting the question, before, the ratepayers as quickly . as. it could. “You represent the ratepayers.” returned Mr. Potter. “If I were here I would do what I thought was right.” The Mayor': - And give away a million and three-quarters? Mr. Potter (warmly): It's not giving it away. We’re all ratepayers. “Thank you,” he added. “It is our intention to call the local bodies together and take action to protect our transport.” FINAL APPEAL Mr. Potter walked toward the door, but was halted by the voice of Cr. E. J. Phelan, who made an effort to prevent the Inevitable. “I'm very much dissatisfied with the attitude adopted,’ ’he said. “I object to Mr. Potter’s attitude, and that of some of our council members, too. I’m not here to waste my time, but I would be prepared to discuss the position until all hours if we could reach some conclusion. The commission has given Its decision as a referee, and it appears that we are not sports enough to accept it!” Mr. Potter, who had returned to his chair, said that he did not understand Cr. Phelan. The position was quite clear —they could get no further. The Mayor repeated that nothing further could be done, and the delegates withdrew after a mild exchange between tbe.M3.yor and Mr. Potter following the Mayor’s use of the word “deputation.” - ANOTHER CONFERENCE OUTSIDE BODIES TO DISCUSS FURTHER ACTION In view of the failure of last evening’s transport conference between the City Council and outside local bodies, another conference of the outside local bodies is being called immediately. The cOßi'erence will decide on what action it considers necessary to safeguard the interests of the suburbs.