MAYOR OF AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 186, 6 August 1913, Page 7

MAYOR OF AUCKLAND.

MR PAKE'S RETURN.

LESSONS FROM AUSTRALIA

CENTRE POLES MUST GO.

(By Telegrapb.—rjjliamentar.v Beporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. Mr C. J. Parr (Mayor of Auckland), who returned from Australia to-day in an interview, made a number of interesting observations regarding tramways ■He expressed the conviction that the centre poles would have to go, ac they are a hindrance to traffic, and are not allowed in Australia, where they are considered a danger to public safety. In Sydney and Brisbane, tramway poles arc inserted in the inner curb, 100 ft. apart.- The Auckland system is obsolete, and the polra must p. Up j s a l eo sa . t i sfied t]lat it is eeeential for tramway traffic to be under the control of the municipality. He declares it is nonsence to cay things like overcrowding, licenses, cleanliness, upkeep of pam, time-tables, warrant, are bureaucratic government interference.

MAIN ROADS -MAINTENANCE. Speaking of roads. Mr. Parr extols the Victorian system of control of main road?. A Main Road Board set up by Parliament maintains the main roads o"f the State. The Board has power to decide to which main roads the funds for upkeep shall be supplied by local bodies, the Government, motorists, and other users. They are endfiavouring to secure a similar system in PydMr. Parr considers our North and South Roads should be controlled by such systems, as local authorities were quite unable to find sufficient funds.

FIP.TT AND THE FISH MARKET. Up declares the Auckland City Council is wise in jroinp slow with the fish market. In Brisbane the municipality controls the fish trade. All fish must by statute be sokl in the market, where it is inspected. The fish is put up in wire trays, holding 401bs, and is all sold by auction, the Corporation making charges for its trouble. There has been some difficulty of late through fishermen complaining about prices, and they have laid down a minimum scale. bnC the authorities meet the position by stipulating that all fish unsold shall be destroyed.

Mr. Parr is convinced that lejrislation is necessary in New Zealand, giving municipalities power to protect the interests of the public in this matter. AUCKLAND'S ANTIQUATED ARCHITECTURE. Mr. Parr said he was sreatly impressed with the superiority of the arcls"« tecturc in Australia. In Brisbane, which is a little bijiger than Auckland, very fine public' and private buildings, banks, etc.. put to shajne Queen Street. We are. he -srfys, woefully behind the times in Auckland. Mr. Parr considers Auckland's private enterprise architecture allows frreat room for improvement. Auckland has the poorest buildings of any main street in a Xew Zealand city. Mr. Parr su<r-<rests a school of architecture, and the expenditure of more money. He points, out, however, that high land values in Qneen Street would probably affect that porti-on as, compared wibh £1,000 a foot in Queen Street, Auckland, excellent frontages are available in Brisbane's chief thoroughfare at .CSOO a foot

He was impressed, also, with tie system by which the Brisbane police control the traffic. (Policemen are stationed at six points of congestion, those on the be it takinjr hourly turns instead of special traffic police, as in Wellington. He considers the Brisbane system a great improve.ment on the New Zealand.