WORK OF SPECULATORS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 11

WORK OF SPECULATORS

FLAT-RATE PROPAGANDA MR. ALLUM HITS OUT That the proposal to establish fiat-rate tram fares in Auckland was a move by land speculators was the statement made at this afternoon's meeting of the Transport Board by the chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum. “I have come to the conclusion that the proposal is nothing more than a move by speculators, to use this board as si means of assisting their speculation,” Mr. Allum said. “T am not going to be a party to it. This undertaking has been made the subject of a good deal of propaganda. Statements are being promulgated with the view to enhancing land values. Already you know that bus services were developed to open up estates, and now the board has to provide services which cannot possibly pay to provide outlying population with transport. The closely populated areas have to carry these- weak services on their backs. EX PAP.TE STATEMENTS “I am very disappointed by the way the question of the flat rate has been handled by the recent conference of local bodies,” declared Mr. Allum. “I can see no value in ex parte statements. lam also sorry that no members of the board or its officers, were invited to attend. Mr. Allum said that there was now considerable alarm and apprehension in the city about the flat rate. From discussion with prominent citizens, he had been convinced that the proposal would in no way commend itself to the public. Serious hardship would be brought to the majority of the travelling public. “The board does not require a great deal more revenue—only a relatively small amount,” the chairman remarked. “We have to get that revenue —we must make the ledger balance. We don’t need more than enough to make the services pay, and don't want a big profit. "The chairman’s remarks were Uncalled for,” said Mr. E. H. Potter, who said that the local body conference had not advocated the threepenny fiat-rate fare, hut had merely affirmed the principle. He would not be surprised to see Wellington adopt the system in the near future. A ■universal rate of two-pence halfpenny in Auckland would give more revenue than that obtained today.