Ratepayers to Decide

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 471, 28 September 1928, Page 8

Ratepayers to Decide

Bill Provides Transport Board THE voice of the ratepayers of Auckland and suburbs will decide whether the transport system of the city will be handed over to a board, as recommended by the Commission. The Auckland Transport Board Bill, a draft copy of which was presented do the City Council last evening, follows closely the recommendations of the Commission, but does not become valid unless the ratepayers decide by poll that the council shall hand over the tramways and bus undertaking to a newly constituted board with power to levy for financial requirements.

Bill, which has been placed into "*■ the hands of the Government for introduction to Parliament, echoes the sentiments of the transport commission accurately, and its S 9 clauses cover a wide field of power for a board which it is proposed shall represent the city and suburban districts. The Auckland Transport District, as constituted by the Bill, comprises the City of Auckland, together with the boroughs of Mount Eden, Newmarket and Onehunga, the road districts of One Tree Hill, Mount Koskill, Mount Wellington and Panmure townships, and the board of ten members will have six representing the city,

two representing the boroughs mentioned, and the remaining two watching the interests of the town districts enumerated. Within one month of the coming into operation of the Act* the board is to be elected from candidates nominated by the bodies concerned. Tenure of membership is fixed at six years, but, as recommended by the commission, half the members will retire every three years, and thereafter three-yearly polls will be held to fill the vacancies. The first retirement will be registered in 1932, when a ballot will be taken for the retiring members. The chairman, who will be appointed at the first meeting, will hold office for six years, and will receive £250 annually for his services, the tenure of office precluding him from

the first retiring ballot in 1932. Individual members are to receive £1 10s for each meeting of the board or its committees —up to a limit of £7S a year. Members who are financially interested in any question before the board are forbidden to participate in the discussion. ARRANGING FINANCE In arranging its finance, the transport board is given powers similar to other local authorities, and is bound by the existing restricting legislation in respect to loans. The ratepayers are to bo consulted when loans are being arranged. The board is empowered to raise loans for the execution of a specific work which is to the advantage of any particular district within its area, and if excessive expenditure warrants it, a levy may be imposed. The chief immediate function of the board will be to take over, as a going concern, the whole of the city tramways and bus undertaking, including land, buildings and plant, as well as loan indebtedness and sinking funds already established. This procedure, however, is subject to the voice of the ratepayers, for the city council is authorised within 42 days of the operation of the Bill, to take a poll of the ratepayers to decide whether the council will transfer the transport system into the hands of the board. If this poll is rejected, the Act will cease to function, but if the ratepayers agree to the change, the system will be handed over at a date to be fixed within one month of the board's first meeting. MAINTAINING ROADS On taking over the transport machinery of the city, the board is given wide powers of control, though restricting provisions protect the interests of the city and suburban bodies in the maintenance and construction of roads. The roadway between the tramlines and for 18in on each side is to be maintained by the board. This obligation is identical with that which the tramway department is called upon to fulfil at the present time. Disputes between the board and local bodies will be settled by a qualified expert appointed by the parties, and if this fails arbitration will be utilised. Nothing is to prevent the board from acquiring land outside its district and erecting thereon buildings and works, compensation to be paid to those who suffer material loss by the acquisition of the land. The Bill is a comprehensive one, and covers the whole field of transport for the city and suburbs, with machinery essential for the execution of control and maintenance, as well as provision for development and extension of services. The measure is now in the hands of the Government, and presumably will be introduced into Parliament at a later stage. This at any rate, is the intention of the city authorities here.