Transport Problem

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 499, 31 October 1928, Page 8

Transport Problem

MR. BLOODWORTH REVIEWS SITUATK# j BY-ELECTION CANDIDATE Though a promise was gi\en to Government that if the transport islation was passed the city suburban representatives would do an in their power to have it put into opera 'l tion, it was left to Mr. T. Bloodworth an ex-City Councillor and a co-optS representative of the suburbs, to jtfS the only public address on the subject Ratepayers in the city and suburbs* are voting on the question of agreeis* to a board to-day*, polling closing at s p.m. Mr. Bloodworth spoke to a verv small audience at the Chamber 0 * Commerce. Mr. E. J. Phelan presided and apologised for the City Council’ He said he and Mr. Bloodworth had waited until the last minute to see if the City Council intended to do anything further about placing the posi* tion before the ratepayers, and on nothing eventuating had decided to j call a meeting. Mr. Bloodworth, who is a candidate for the city by-election next Wednesday, also took the opportunity* to further his election campaign. He explained that he had been a councillor for eight years, had been a member of the Tramways Committee for most of that period, had attended all the Wellington conferences, was the city’s principal witness before the Parliamentary Committee, and gave evidence before the Transport Comrai*. sion. IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE Almost from the time the city took over the service, he said, it had been apparent to some who were intimately associated with tramway matters tha: control would not be satisfactory until the financial responsibility for the service and representation in its control were spread over the whole area served. The poll to be taken the next day* gave an opportunity for this change to be brought about The Transport Board Act was not & perfect piece of legislation; it did not please everybody, but it provided the means whercbv many of the difficulties in transport could be removed and a development in transport matters be made possible. The deadlock in transport matters had been responsible for a part of the trade depression, and an improvement in transport -would help on an improvement in trade. He urged ratepayers of both the city and the outer areas to give their vote in favour of the proposal that the Transport Board Act should come into operation. Mr. Bloodworth explained details of the Transport Board Act. There had been a good many* mis-statements made concerning it, and some misunderstanding still existed.

The powers of the new board would be similar to those of the Auckland Electric-Power Board. The first board was to be a nominated one, but in 1931 the board would be elected on the municipal franchise. The board’s borrowing powers were the same as those of the City Council or the Power Board, that is. all loans would have to be approved by the Loan’s Board and the ratepayers. With regard to the by-election he regretted as much as anyone the circumstances which had caused the vacancy, but so soon as the vacancy occurred he had been asked by many people to accept nomination. “I make no secret of the fact that I desire to be a member of the Transport Board,” said the speaker. The City 'Council had stood strongly for a nominated board and had opposed an elected one solely on the grounds that it was desirable that experienced

men should be members of the first board. He claimed to have as much experience in tramway matters as any layman could have, and his re-election to the council would place beyond any doubt his eligibility to be nominated as a member of the Transport Board. It had been said that as a member of the committee giving evidence before the Transport Commission, and after as a representative of the outer local bodies, he had opposed the City Council, and that was true, but he had acted in what he thought was the best interests of the citizens and for the progress of the district, and his attitudr had been upheld by the commission and by Parliament in the amendments, it had made to the Transport Bill as it was originally drawn up. and presented by the City* Council. EXPENSE OF ELECTION He had put in his nomination for the vacancy nearly a week before any o.thers were in, so the responsibility for the expense to which the city was put in holding an election for so short a period did not rest with him, but with the other nominees, who. with their supporters, had been carrying on for some months an agitation against alleged waste and extravagances. If elected he could not promise to bring about many reforms in council matters during the short time which would elapse before the municipal elections next May, but he could promise the same attention to business and methods of help or criticism which had won him the support of electors in municipal matters on many previous occasions. “Even though the Transport Board may be a nominated one you have the matter in your own bands, and at the next municipal elections you can make it a party question, and put in a council who will nominate the representatives you desire,” said Cr. E. J. Phelan. “If the proposal is turned down what is the position?” was a question. “Well, it remains the property of the City Council, and under their control.,” said Mr. Bloodworth. “There will be no extensions as the city ratepayers have declined to put in more money.