CURTAIN RUNG DOWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 13

CURTAIN RUNG DOWN

TRANSPORT UNDERTAKING HANDED OVER MAYOR IN DOLEFUL MOOD The Auckland city tramway and bus undertaking was formally transferred from the City Council to the Auckland Transport Board at a special meeting of the City Council yesterday. The motion passed was purely formal. “In passing this we ring down the curtain so *.ir as the control of transport and the City Council are concerned,” remarked the Mayor. “I am sure the board will do its best for the district. There has been an impression—quit© an erroneous one—that the council did not do its best fo.r the outside districts. Now the greater city area has its board, and in my opinion the board’s troubles are only just commencing. I can see as a member of the board that we are going to have a very hard time.” Cr. vJ. B. Paterson inquired if the city would continue to get between £4,000 and £5,000 a year which it used to get from the old tramway company, and has since got from the transport undertaking. “There will be no future payment,” said the Mayor. Cr. T. Bloodworth was of opinion that this point should receive further consideration. The payment had been made to the council under the old deeds of delegation, and had been continued after the old company was out of action. The city solicitor, in reply to a question, said that the board now held the Undertaking by virtue of Order-in-Council and the deeds of delegation fell through forthwith, together with any such liability as this. The meeting concluded with an expression of appreciation for the unfailing courtesy and assistance rendered to the council by the officers of the tramway department.