Auckland’s Transport Described as Scandal

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 479, 8 October 1928, Page 16

Auckland’s Transport Described as Scandal

COUNCIL PASSES BILL A FINAL CRITICISM (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Saturday. “The traffic in Auckland is a public scandal,” said the Hon. G. J. Garland, when the Auckland Transport Bill was under discussion in the Legislative Council. “I do not believe that any six men on the Auckland City Council could get back if they tried—not even the Mayor or Deputy-Mayor. “I hope, too, that most of the councillors will not get back again,” continued Mr. Garland, “yet under this Bill the council is given power to select six of its members for the first board, and they are to remain members until 1931. The first thing there should be is an election for the board. “The ratepayers will in due course have a say in the election of the board, however, and then there will be a better state of affairs than under the Auckland City Council. It is a great mistake to take a Bill of this kind at this late period of the session. The Bill should have gone to a committee for a report to be brought before the council.” The Hon. C. J. Carrington said the Bill should go through. He knew from experience of the great hardship inflicted on residents living in the suburbs owing to transport difficulties. The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre thought the chairman of the board should be a man of business acumen. He did not think he should be a member of the Auckland City Council. The Bill was passed without amendment.