City Council Surprise

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 462, 18 September 1928, Page 1

City Council Surprise

TRANSPORT BOARD FAVOURED Ratepayers * Approval to Be Sought A SURPRISE decision was reached by the Auckland City Council last evening, when it decided to take immediate steps to promote legislation setting up a Metropolitan Transport Board.

A PROVISION was added that if the legislation is passed it shall not become operative until the transfer of the tramway undertaking from the city to the board is approved by the present owners, the city ratepayers. The proposal is that on the legislation being passed a poll of ratepayers should be taken within six weeks. In the event of the legislation being passed and the ratepayers giving their approval it is intended that the undertaking be handed over to the board as from March 31 last. It is reported that the decision of the council last evening was unanimous, or so,'but the meeting was held in committee, so that details are not available. The decision was reached on a recommendation passed by a combined meeting of the Finance and Tramway Committees earlier in the day. STRAIGHT-OUT VOTE In announcing the council’s decision at the close of the meeting the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said the new plan of action would overcome certain undesirable features of the council’s earlier proposal, namely, that the feeling of ratepayers ' should be tested with regard to the question of retaining or disposing of the tramways undertaking by the taking of a poll on proposals to extend and develop the plant. The confusion of issues likely to arise under such a proposal would be entirely removed, as the council’s intention now was to submit a straight-out issue to the ratepayers, who would be asked whether they approved the transfer of the undertaking or not. The representation on the proposed Transport Board, as recommended by the commission is six members for the

city and four for the suburbs, two of the suburban members to represent the combined boroughs of Mount Eden, Newmarket and Mount Albert, and the remaining two to represent the borough of Onehunga and the road districts of One Tree Hill, Mount Roskill, Panmure township and Mount Wellington and the town district of Ellerslie. The board is to take over as a going concern the tramway and motor-omnibus services of the City Council on the basis of the city tramways department balance sheet as on March 31, 1928, and it is to have the borrowing powers of a local authority. ANOTHER CONFERENCE “Our recommendation this evening still maintains the view that we should not part with the tramways undertaking without a mandate from the ratepayers,” said Mr. Baildon. “Having come to our decision, we do not mean to lose any more time. As far as the City Council is concerned we intend to proceed immediately with the preparation of a Bill in order that it may be dealt with before Parliament rises.” Mr. Baildon added the council desired to have the co-operation of the outside local bodies in the preparation of the Bill. He had conveyed the council’s decision to Mr. E. H. Potter, the Mayor of Mount Eden, as soon as the meeting was over, and a committee had been set up to meet the representatives of the local bodies concerned. He hoped a meeting of the parties could be arranged for Thursday evening. LOCAL BODY ATTITUDE The suburdan local bodies have been advised of the decision of the City -Council and will consider the new position at a meeting tins evening.