M.P. HITS OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 699, 26 June 1929, Page 9

M.P. HITS OUT

TRANSPORT TROUBLES IN THE SUBURBS gfcfiCTIVE BOARD WANTED Couched in no uncertain term*, * letter was received by the Mount Reskill Road Board at its meeting lest evening from Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P. for Roskill, referring to the transport position in the district, and castigating the Transport Board for its actions. Mr. Munns said that the position of transport in the district was in a claotic state. He had been forced to come to the conclusion that the root of the trouble was that the Transport Board, as at present constituted, was dominated by representatives from the City Council, who were not in sympathy with the suburban road problems. Ho claimed that at the present time dre Transport Board should provide transport to the board's outlying districts by a fleet of mobile buses. Speaking as a layman, he said it appeared to be folly for the Transport poard to continue to lose large sums of money on its buses when private persons were anxious and willing to relieve it of that loss. He said that the licensing authority had been invested with power to rule all opposition off the road, and this power it had ruthlessly exercised. better system wanted Mr. Munns said that he proposed, with the approval of the board, to take Steps to secure a more just'and equitable representation on the Transport Board. He had come to the conclusion that an elective board would be best. A long discussion followed as to whether the letter should be sent on to the Transport Board with Mount Jtoskill’s approval. Mr. G. E. Tansley said the Transport Board was doing its best for Mount Roskill. and it would be wrong to send the letter on to the board. Mr. E. F. Jow?s, chairman, said the matter was going to be brought before the House of Representatives during the coming session. Mr. G. Scarborough said that the board had been badly treated by the Transport Board. He thought that the letter should be sent on, and moved that the board approve of the principal of an elective body. Mr. E. Pearce: It is a mistake, a phame. Mr. Scarborough: It was a shame jrhen they left us without buses. Mr. Tansley: I hope we will not Send that letter on. Finally the board decided to receive Mr. Munns's letter and thank him for his interest in the affairs of Mount Boskill.

MR ALLUM REPLIES •MOKE WILL BE NEGLECTED" Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Transport Board, said this morning that Mr. Munns had not stated anything specific in his attack. The board was always prepared to give careful attention to any complaints, and was fully aware of its responsibilities toward ratepayers and their interests were not being neglected. It was untrue to say that the large area beyond Mount Albert Road would not be catered for even when the new> tram extensions were competed. No area would be neglected, said Mr. Allum. STAND IN MT. ALBERT SUPPORT FOR MR. MUNNS “The Transport Board is the biggest crime in the city at present. Its only cry is trams, trams, trams, and that is no use to the man living where there are no trams.” This assertion was made by Air. J. H. Langley at a meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening when a similar letter was received from Mr. G. C. Munns. If Mr. Munns intended that efforts should be made to secure an elected body, he was fully in accord with it, said Mr. Langley. The Transport Board was of little use, he added. There were six members elected by the City Council, and suburban representatives had little chance. The board should he an elected body. He moved that every assistance be given Mr. Munps. Mr. A. Buckley seconded the motion, and pointed out several irregularities affecting Mount Albert. “Does your Worship know of these things?” he asked. The Mayor, Mr. L. E. Rhodes: No. Mr. Buckley: It is time that some of the Transport Board members woke up. The Mayor: It is impossible for rue to know everything that goes on in the borough, but if these things are brought before my notice, as a member of the Transport Board I will be only too pleased to investigate them. Mr. Buckley: What chance have you got against others? The Mayor: Generally speaking the voting is not city versus local bodies. The motion was carried.