“SELFISH MOTIVES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 983, 28 May 1930, Page 1

“SELFISH MOTIVES”

QUEEN STREET OPPONENTS OF TRAM OUTLET BUSINESS MAN HITS OUT “That deputation was inspired by selfish motives. They think they are keeping trade down in Queen Street by opposing the use of Albert Street for trams.” This was the comment of Mr. R. A. Laidlaw, general manager of tha Farmers’ Trading Company, who was asked this morning to give his opinion on the proposal to make a new tram outlet in Albert Street. The deputation referred to consisted of Queen Street property owners and traders who waited on the Transport Board yesterday to protest against the scheme formulated by the transport manager, Mr. A. E. Ford. “My opinion is that instead of the Auckland City Council suffering a loss in rates due to a shrinkage in the rateable value of Queen Street properties if a number of tram trips were removed from that street, an increase in rates .would probably accrue,” remarked Mr. Laidlaw. “The effect of the creation of a new shopping area would mean that values In Albert Street and neighbouring parts would rise and the council would lose nothing because the rates would be spread.” Queen Street was becoming so congested that people were simply going elsewhere to do their shopping, Mr. Laidlaw continued. They would not put up with harassing conditions. Rents were too high, and the result was that a number of shops were now empty in Queen Street. The same thing had happened in New York, to take a well-known example, where the Down Town and Broadway shopping areas had become so congested that new areas had had to be opened up. It was only the geographical features of Auckland that had allowed conditions to remain congested as long as they had been. The Albert Street scheme ought to have the support of all fair-minded people. The fact that one straight shift would be saved daily was strong argument for going ahead with the plan. Trams were now too slow in getting out of Queen Street and by use of Albert Street most western travellers would be saved from 10 to 15 minutes on the homeward journey. “I think it would be to the general benefit of the City to have business distributed,” said Mr. Laidlaw. COUNCILLORS RETICENT

At present, members of the Auckland City Council are reticent about the scheme, because the council has not yet been consulted and they do not wish their private opinions to go abroad at this stage. Cr. B. L. Bagnall remarked that there was no doubt that some form of traffic relief would have to be undertaken in the near future, but he had not decided what form or what street he would advocate.

Cr. Ellen Melville, who had opposed the scheme when It was first mooted by the Tramways Committee of the council in 1925, said she did not know whether the idea had been modified. Miss Melville also had private opinions on the relief of traffic congestion, but is not yet prepared to divulge them. Other councillors spoke similarly. Five, however, the Mayor included, being members of the Transport Board, will be unable to make any comment until the board gives the question its consideration.