TRANSPORT COMPROMISE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 476, 4 October 1928, Page 1

TRANSPORT COMPROMISE

Nomination of First Board MEMBERS PROMISE SMOOTH PASSAGE (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. A COMPROMISE on the Auckland Transport Bill was reached with the aid of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates at a further conference this morning, and the Auckland members of Parliament have now agreed to give the proposed Bill, which is reduced from 89 clauses to 72, a smooth passage. J

The basis of the agreement is that the first board shall be nominated with power given to the incoming City Council to alter its representation if it desires. The first election will be held on a municipal franchise, in 1931. Members have thus gained the cardinal point at issue, but there is a proviso that after the Bill has passed both Houses it shall be subjected to the final consideration of the existing City Council, which may take exception to it on the grounds that too many alterations have been made to the original draft. The amended Bill is now expected to appear to-night or to-morrow. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, and Mr. J. Stanton, representing the City Council, and Mr. V. H. Potter and Mr. T. Bloodworth, representing the outside bodies, are staying in Wellington to watch its progress. At one stage last evening it looked as though the Bill were definitely a dead proposition. That the term of the first nominated board should not extend beyond next April

, was unacceptable to the City Council delegation,- with the result that A deadlock seemed to have been reached. The’ Prime .Minister, however, inter- » vened in the! role of mediator, and the result of a tworhour conference in his room last night, if not yielding any .angible progress, was at least sufficient to promise- the possibility that some form of a Bill may yet appear. A factor- in the ultimate achievement of unanimity between the interested parties at this morning’s conference was the prospect that the formation of a transport board, by paving the way fo.r tramway extensions, will lead to the relief of unemployment, it being calculated that work for some 300 men will be available if the proposed extensions are put in hand. This undoubtedly influenced the members of Parliament at this morning’s meeting. Mr. Coates expressed his satisfaction at the- satisfactory settlement of the differences. He realised that the Auckland transport problem was so acute that some solution should be found at the . earliest possible moment.