MAYOR’S TELEGRAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 830, 26 November 1929, Page 14

MAYOR’S TELEGRAM

MT. ALBERT DISCUSSION ELECTIVE BOARD WANTED A telegram sent by the Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. L. E.v Rhodes, in the dying hours of the last session of Parliament, concerning the Transport Bill, which was finally rejected by the House, formed one of the chief topics of discussion at the quarterly meeting of the Mount Albert Terminus Ratepayers and Residents’ Association, held last evening. The president of the association, Mr. P. Floyd, occupied the chair. Several resolutions were passed, including one which favoured an elective Transport Board. The discussion concerning the telegram sent by the Mayor was introduced by Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P., who was asked to address the meeting. He said that long before he went to Parliament he realised the serious disabilities under which the suburbs laboured in regard to transport. He traversed the history of the Transport Bill, which met with opposition in its original form because it was not acceptable to the local bodies. Later it was endeavoured to get a shorter measure through, reducing the life of the present board by a year, but after he had done a considerable amount of lobbying and success was assured, Mr. Coates, at the last moment, read telegrams from Mr. Allum, chairman of the board, and from Mr. Rhodes. The telegrams turned away from his side 12 votes and the Bill failed to pass by three. If ordinary intelligence were used, he said, he could see many ways by which the tram service could be turned from a losing proposition into a paying one. When invited to speak, Mr. Rhodes said he thought it was not generally understood that a week or two before, his council had unanimously passed a resolution asking members of Parliament to endeavour to postpone tlie Bill. lie was in strong support of an elective board, and he sent the telegram as a member of the Transport Board, because he did not agree with the manner in which the measure was being put through. The board was doing its best, and when the new rolling stock was on the road and the extensions were completed a great deal of relief work would be given. It was liis intention to bring forward a system of fares similar to that operating in Wellington —3 maximum fare and 2d minimum. Such a scheme would meet the demands of users and would not be so hard on the one-section travellers as tho flat rate. A resolution favouring the elective board and suggesting that the present one should resign was moved by Mr. A. F. Bennett. This was carried, also one by Mr. Mercer, which suggested a conference with the board to discuss problems, while a further motion by Mr. Bennett to the effect that" the present tram fares were not in the best interests of the City as a whole, and urging the board to reconsider the adoption of the flat rate, was also carried.