WILL CITY SUFFER?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 785, 4 October 1929, Page 1

WILL CITY SUFFER?

COUNCIL TO DISCUSS FLAT-RATE PLAN INVESTIGATION NEEDED Whether the flat-rate fare in trams would be acceptable to the citizens of the inner city area will be discussed by the City Council at a special meeting next Tuesday evening. JJRIEF comments —some in opposition —were made on the flat rate at the council last evening. A report on the' question and a table showing the probable effect of the flat rate came from the Auckland Transport Board. A letter from the Mount Eden Council said its Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, had, .at a request from the Mount Roskill Road Board, convened a meeting of local body representatives to discuss the proposal on Thursday evening next week. The question of sending delegates will be considered by the City Council at its special meeting. , Commenting on the Transport Board’s figures, the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said the board had made a statement of fact and was not influencing any body, POPULARITY IN OTHER PARTS While acknowledging the popularity of the flat rate in other parts of the world. Cr. Grey Campbell did not want to see the introduction of a svstem which would penalise residents of the inner area. It was Cr. J. Patterson’s motion to hold a special meeting, Crs. B. E. Bagnall and W. H. Murray spoke in support. “We must give our citizens an opportunity to express their views,” was tho reminder of Cr. A. J. Entrican, who suggested the holding of a public meeting. “It seems wrong to me to have the fares increased for city people when people in the outer districts^—and they have not had financial responsibility—will be the ones to benefit. To introduce a threepenny fare would, to my mind, be a grave and -a doubtful experiment. The citizens have handed to the Transport Board property worth nearly £2,000,000. I do not. think a special meeting will do much good—the question must eventually rest with the ratepayers.” Cr. F. N. Bartram thought final settlement of the fares question would be by compromise.