"TRIVIAL COMPLAINT"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 14

"TRIVIAL COMPLAINT"

MAYOR OF MOUNT EDEN AND A MOTOR LICENCE CITY INSPECTOR’S REPORT “A trivial complaint that should have been dealt with verbally,’' was how the Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, characterised a letter from the City Council, received at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening. The letter, which included a report from the City traffic inspector, complained of the alleged incompetence of a motor driver who had been licensed by the Mount Eden Council. "While on point duty at Grafton Bridge,” stated the inspector, "I saw the car driven by the driver concerned and noticed he was in difficulties. On receiving from the officer the signal to advance the car moved jerkily backward and forward, finally coming to a stop 1 went over to the man and finding he was extremely confused and nervous drove the car across the intersection for him.” According to a report from the borough traffic inspector, which Mr. Potter read last evening, the driver had passed his licensing test very creditably. On the day In question he drove the car to a garage to have the clutch attended* to as it was slipping. He was unable to get this rectified and drove the car homo. Near Grafton Bridge he was held tip by the traffic inspector. When he tried to start again the clutch slipped and the car jumped backward and forward three times. He was abused by the driver immediately behind him, and when the traffic inspector came over and addressed him sharply be became, so he admitted, confused and nervous. After stopping for about 30 minutes in Symonds Street, he became calm again and drove home. The borough inspector considered the complaint was trivial and showed prejudice. It was decided to receive both reports and to forward a copy of the borough traffic inspector’s report to the City Council. COMMERCIAL AIRPORT QUESTION An invitation to attend a meeting to discuss the provision of a commercial airport for Auckland was received from the City Council. Mr. Potter: The airport question is one that could best be left to private enterprise. "I think all municipal bodies should have a rest from industrial activities,” said Mr. W. H. Nagle. "At the present time no council is justified in committing itself to any further enterprise of a business nature.” It was decided to send delegates to the meeting to present these views to the council.