WITHIN A MONTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 803, 25 October 1929, Page 6

WITHIN A MONTH

MR. MORTON RESIGNING DEFINITE ANNOUNCEMENT The resignation of Mr. F. S. Morton, one of two members of the Transport Board for No. 3 Area, will be in the hands of the board’s secretary within a month. rpHE information was given to The * Sun by Mr. Morton. He said that the reason why he had retained his seat despite his announced intention to resign at the end of last May. was that the major local bodies he represented had asked him to continue in office as long as he felt able. The member now proposes to make one of his periodic visits to South Africa, chiefly on account of his health. From there he may go on to England and finally America before returning to New Zealand. NO PERSONAL ANIMUS Discussing his term with the Transport Board, Mr. Morton said there had never been anything personal in his attitude to other members. "I have tried to do the right thing by the ratepayers,” he said. "It has been my one desire to make the undertaking a paying proposition. I have looked at finances from a commercial standpoint, f have wanted to give a fair measure of benefit to everyone." Mr. Morton expressed the belief that what he had so strenuously adyoeated—namely, a flat rate fare for Auckland and trackless electric trams for certain parts of the district — would be accomplished facts within a very few- years. He felt there was no other solution of the problem of decreased revenue. Competition arising out of the appearance of Benmodes of transport demanded a flat rate. "One reason for the decline in the number of people using the trams is the influence of the taxi companies,” Mr. Morton remarked. ‘‘Low fares have proved a commercial proposition, and X don’t think the day of the high taxi charges will return to this city.”

The demand for more speedy transit w-as adding to the disfavour in which the trams were held in the public view. Track cars were obsolete. Mr. Morton did not think that the last had been heard of the flat rate, even though the Transport Board had turned it down. There should be an immediate referendum on a matter in w-hich there was so marked a difference of opinion.