NEW TRAM FARES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 142, 15 June 1920, Page 7

NEW TRAM FARES.

DISSATISFACTION RIFE. AMOXOST IjOCAL BODIES. THE MT. EDEN VIEW. If one local body more than another hns thrashed out the prog and cons of the propoeed new tram conditions it must surely be the Mt. Eden Borough Council. The matter of concession tickets in particular has engaged a deal of the council's time. J-ast evening the council's attitude—a very unoompromieing one—in respect to the issue of these, ticket*; was expressed with a unanimity of opinion. The matter again cropped up as the result of a query submitted by Mr. E. 11. Potter, to which the Mayor, Mr. C. H. Hudson, replied, stating that the delegates appointed by the various local bodies had been called to meet this afternoon to consider joint action in the matter, ami on Wednesday next they would meet I the Public Works Committee of the City 'Council. A universal feeling of dissatifi- ■ faction prevailed amongst the local bodies in respect to the proposed condition., of ieeue, he added, and proceeded to review the causes for complaint. These wore that a card was to be available on a trip for the holder only, i-nd that the. time limit of one month was to be inc-\Btfd upon. Further, lOoal bodies would emphasise their disagreement, with these conditions. "The agreement for concessions wae a specific one. and contained no mention of these conditions, as it should have done," continued Mr. Hud«on. The delegates intended to eec that the concessions were not nullified. In the event of the council failing to fell in with the views of local bodies in waiving the propoeed conditions, a demand would be made for the issue of separate tickets, as had been the custom heretofore. Members acquiesced with the views expressed by Mr. Hudson, qualifying them by instructing their delegates not to submit to the two conditions specified. Air. Potter suggested that failing acceptance by the City Council of this suggestion that the condition stipulating that only one member of a family should use a card on the game trip should be waived, the Mt. Eden Council should not accept the conditions. This view was also accepted by members. -Mr. Shacklefonl contended that the tickets should be issued in euch a way as to permit a man and his wife travelling together using the card. Mr. Hooton was strongly against any embargo being placed on the tickets. Mr. Hudson finally advised the council that the delegates were fully conversant with the position, and would not give way on the two conditions. A decision was come to on the motion of Mr. L. .101 l that when the matter of carrying folding push-carts on tramears is next before it that it he favourably considered. Thie resolution was submitted after Mr. .Toll had been advised that it would be impossible for the conference to discuss the matter. ALLEGED BREACH OF FAITH. SUBURBAN' BODIES' OBJECTION'S. Three letters freun kindred local bodies were received "by the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening. The firet, from the One-tree Hill Road Board, embodied a recently-formulated resolution that ITic Board would look upon any curtailment of concession tickets euch as restriction to certain dates as a breach of the agreement recently made between the City Council and the local bodies. The second, from the Mount Eden Borough Council, advised that a conference of the outside local bodies is to be held to consider the question of the proposed method of giving concessions. The third, from the Town Clerk of Auckland, notified the Council of an arrangement for the Public Services Committee to meet the representatives of the local bodies primarily concerned in the tramway service, when the matter of concession tickets would 'be discussed, and the reasons for issuing the tickets in the method proposed would be fully explained. When the letters were received last evening. Councillor Wilson, one of the delegates of the Council in reference to tramway matters, stated that he considered the new plan of concession tickets as a breach.of faith. We was present at thp meeting with the Mayor and Mr. Walklate, and, although no definite details of concessions were discussed, it was understood that a thqronghlv satisfactory concession ticket would be provided. He regarded the restriction of dates as unfair. Councillor Harrison hoped (hat the delegate* would stand out for fair tickets. A resolution expressing sympathy with the One-tree Hill Board wae characterised as "not going far enough" by Councillor Clarke, who suggested that the delegates refuse to 6ign the deed of delegation. "I feel very aggrieved about it," said the Mayor. "We spent a considerable amount of time in discussing the matter, and we appointed two of the best accountants in the city to go through the tramway accounts and to assist us in arriving at a fair concession. When-we met the Mayor of 'Auckland no restriction of time was mentioned. The iMayor did not seem to relish t'h<? amount of concession that we suggested, 'but be fell in with our views when he saw that we were unanimous. T, for one. do not at present feel inclined to sign the deed of delegation until the question of restriction to certain dates is cleared up. T will probably move at the meeting of the outeide bodies, to be held to-mor-row, that we send a memorial to the Governor-General explaining how our original scheme has be<"n curtailed." A further resolution was carried: "That this Council ia not in favour of signing the memorial to hie Excellency the Governor-General until the propoeed restrictione on the concession tickets are abolished." AT ONKHUNGA. The Onehunga Borough Council also discussed the question of concession tickets. After lengthy consideration it was decided not to sign any more documents dealing with the propoeed in- | crease in tramway fares until the terms 'of the concession tickets have been 1 made to the council'e satisfaction. It ' was aba agreed to join with other local bodies at a meeting of the City Council to-morrow afternoon and consider the matter.