“PUBLISH OUR FIGURES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 900, 18 February 1930, Page 11

“PUBLISH OUR FIGURES”

MR. E. H. POTTER DRAWS TRANSPORT BOARD WHAT MOUNT EDEN DOES Sharp difference of opinion on the question of the periodic publication of Transport Board figures relating to income and expenditure exists among members of the board. When Mr. B. TI. Potter reminded the manager, Mr. A. K. Ford. this morning, that he i .V.r. Potter) had asked tor a sauement showing the condition of the finances as at December 31, 19*29. Mr. Ford placed voluminous accounts before him giving- his position for a period of -S days ending February 8. Glancing at the figures. Mr. Potter said he wanted a simple statement of receipts and expenditure. He felt the public was entitled to know the por - tion. “This is the only board that refuses to publish periodic accounts.” he remarked, and went on to say that the Mount Kden Borough Council, oC which he is Mayor, gave its electors a monthly statement, lie claimed that the issuing of financial returns was a right and proper procedure. The Acting-Chairman. Mr. G. Baildon: For our competitors. Continuing, Mr. Potter expressed surprise that the statement he desired had not been placed before the meeting. The board could then have some idea of its position. All businesses did that. It was not fair to ask him to take out his own figures from those put before him. Mr. Baildon: There is no reason to keep these accounts back from anybody. But we are a business concern with competitors. We cannot publish the whole of our inner workings. Mr. A. J. Entrican quite agreed with the acting-chairman. Personally, he had never seen the finances of the Mount Eden Borough Connell in print, presumably because the Press regarded those figures as of insufficient interest. Discussion lapsed when the secretary, Mr. W. St. J. Clarke, placed the accounts directly under the member's gaze. Mr. Potter nodded once or twice and smiled. Mr. Baildon hinted tha: the finances were in a very satisfactory condition, which suggested that the increased price of concession cards was having the hoped-for result.