TRAMWAY CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 4

TRAMWAY CONTROL.

LOCAL BODIES' POWERS. A letter was read at the Grey Lynn Council last night from the Town Clerk, Auckland, re the tramways regulations. He pointed out that the Grey Lynn Council's suggestion that a local board of control should be set up consisting of members of the various local bodies governing the districts through which such tramways run. was introducing a side issue, as the point was the repealing of the Trmrways Amendment Act, which deprived the local bodies of much control over the tramway service. It was again urged that Grey Lynn Council should co-operate in securing the repeal of tlie Act.

The Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon) said the City Council was not altogether pleased at Grey Lynn wanting to have a little say in the management of the trams.

A letter was read from the Public Works Department stating the Council's suggestion would receive consideration before the regulations were dealt with.

Mr. G. J. Garland said the Council's intention was that the law of 1910 should be repealed, as it took the control of the trams out of the hands of local bodies. At the same time care should be taken that there should not be substituted a tramway board consisting merely of the Auckland City Council. Whenever the Grey Lynn Council asked any concession from the Tramways Company they got scant treatment.

Mr. T. L. Thompson supported Councillor Garland's remarks. He contended that it was the people in the suburbs who used the tramcars most. He moved that the Council adhere to its previous resolution re setting up a local board of control for the tramway regulating. Mr. J. W. Tattersfield seconded the motion. He said lie would rather the Government retained the control than that the Act should be. repealed, and the power vested in the City Council alone. Mr. J. A. Warnock said the deed of delegation could not be altered, but a board of control could enforce the regulations. The motion was then adopted. The Mayor said the matter would be considered at a meeting of the Council this week, at which the Local Bodies' Association would confer with the City Council. On the motion of Mr. Warnock, it was resolved to reply to the Town Clerk, Auckland: "That this Council begs to point out that the matter under discussion deals with tramway regulations and not with deeds of delegation, also that this Council maintains its former opinion, that the question is what body should enforce such regulations, a local board or a Government Department