Mr. Allum Hits Back at Mr. Munns

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 754, 29 August 1929, Page 9

Mr. Allum Hits Back at Mr. Munns

SUBURBAN TRANSPORT “GRATUITOUS INSULT" "I must express my extreme surprise at the tenor of your communication, and can only conclude that you are either uninformed or deliberately deceiving yourself as to the true position.” 'J'HESE remarks have been addressed by Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman jC the Transport Board, to Mr. G. C. Munns, Government member for Roskill, who has attacked the board in the House of Representatives on the question of transport in the Roskill electorate. Mr. Munns had stated that the Transport Board was dominated oy the City Council members, and that little consideration was being given to the needs of the suburbs. The member also stated that people were being forced to live in the city and that suburban houses were becoming increasingly empty. “You were requested to give information regarding the dissatisfaction which you say exists, and vour reply is a series of statements which are similar to those made to the board by the representatives of residents of St. Heliers and Kohimarama when before the board on a recent occasion, and whose districts are served entirely by private enterprise.” Mr. Allum states. “I asked you to offer suggestions. and your reply is, In effect, that the board should hand over to private enterprise the services In the district which you represent, and the board should resign. UNWORTHY STATEMENTS “May I tell you that no complaint and no suggestion which is sent to the board is ever disregarded, but is always given the most careful attention, and the suggestions you make that the board is incapable of acting impartially and in a fair and just manner are unworthy of anyone occupying the position which you have the honour to hold.” Mr. Allum defines the policy of ths board as working for the greatest good of the greatest number. He makes the direct challenge to Mr, Munns to pass on all complaints he had received from residents of hie electorate, and every one would be considered. Referring to the Waikowhai service, Mr. Allum remarks that residents themselves were of the opinion that only a morning and evening service was justified. Anyone with the most elementary knowledge of transport would inform Mr. Munns that no more than the services at present run by the board were justified by existing conditions, and that must be regarded in any case as what is known as a “weak service.” DISINTERESTED POLICY “I note your reference to the hundreds of acres of land only awaiting transport to be cut up,” Mr. Allum continues, “and I would take this opportunity to tell you that the board is not functioning as a transport authority in. the interests of land owners or of those interested in land, but this Is not to be taken as a statement that the board will not put on services to develop districts where justified. There are large areas of vacant land In many parts of the board’s district which are entitled to equal consideration to those in Roskill, and what would the ratepayers of the various districts under the board’s jurisdiction have to say when asked to contribute out of their own pockets, through the rates, to maintain such admittedly unprofitable services?” "Your references regarding school attendances and empty houses apply to practically every part of the Auckland district, and surely you must be aware of this. I suggest you take the opportunity to observe the number of empty shops and residences along the existing tram routes. The cause of this is surely not unknown to you.” Admitting that no improvement had taken place in the tram services during the last three years, Mr. Allum said the provision of the 50 new cars (25 of which were now building) under the recent loan authority would solve the problem. Regarding the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act about which Mr. Munn3 had complained, Mr. Allum replies that whatever might be one’s opinion regarding the Act, it must be remembered that it applied to the whole of the Dominion, and legislation of this character was not by any means confined to New Zealand. GRATUITOUS INSULT “When you state that ‘we feel wa are still dominated by the City Council’ I do not know for whom you claim to speak,” remarks Mr. Atlun, “6ut I say most definitely that the Transport Board is dominated by no one and will be dominated by no one, as a perusal of the various divisions taken by the board will prove. Your statement is a gratuitous insult to gentlemen who are seeking to deal with transport problems under most difficult conditions. “You are quite right in stating that I personally was strongly opposed to the formation of a hoard, but I had the good sense to accept the decision of the commission of experts who inquired into transport conditions in the Auckland district.” Mr. Allum proceeds. “The Transport Board did not come into being until the principle had been overwhelmingly endorsed by the citizens of every part of the board’s district, and with a full knowledge that the board would be nominated for its first term. You persist in referring to the transport undertaking as though it were owned by the board, and may I remind you that it is owned by and operated for the | people in the board’s district, and I ! assume that I can include you among ] the number. “I realise that you are entitled ; to your own opinion regarding private enterprise and that you are entitled to plead for it, but may I suggest that it is fitting that you should also take into regard the public interest in an undertaking in which soon there will be nearly two and a-haif millions pounds sterling invested. “I think I am entitled to expect that in your representative capacity you will not criticise the board In the manner you have done,” concludes Mr. Allum, "but rather devote your energies to evolve suggestions which will be helpful to the board.”