TRAFFIC CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1927, Page 6

TRAFFIC CONTROL.

CLAIMS OF NORTH SHORE,

DEPUTATION TO '

ACT TO STAND FOR THE PRESENT;

The claims ol the marine borough, of Auckland to control load traffic trjtlj in their boundaries were voiced to-dar by a largo deputation which waited „iw P ''7 " "< -Mr. A. Harris. M l', tor Waitemata, aill every local authoiiiy on the north eifl, ol the harbour w a<- represented.

By a recent d.-ci«.ion of the v Ulrr . Court, the Takapuna Borough ciS' debarred from acting as No « ], ing authority, and the amended the regulation:- under the VU?"* Traffic Act. 1W«. M . a . to ~ tro of traffic 111 the marine l.oroiw^,' undci No. 1 authority, namelv Au'-k land City Council. To dav's depuUtim urged \cry Mrongly That the local on the north side of the harbour v tT I better qualified 10 administer their traffic control ihau Auckland, and the* asked that the Act be amended to tin* ctfect.

In his rq.lv iho Prime Minister said Iho decision of l tx- i.nvcrnmenl had nu been arrived at hurriedly. Km after careful considerat ion. and the Act could not l>e altered uniil sufficient time hai elapsed to judge of working assured the deputation that the Governmem realised the nchts ol local bodies, and if in itr- operation Uie Act created injustice or unfairness to the general public. the regulations would 1* revise I'ntil the Act had had a trial, however there could be no revision. * "A Sense of Injustice." Mr. Harris. M.l\. introducing the dej-u. tation. said the position created bv tl» Act was strongly rc.-ont.ed by "local authorities on the north side of "the har» bour, and it was not Too much to sav that they felt a very definite sense of injustice. Everyone of those authorities was represented by the deputation, and with the exception of one or two menil>ers of the Takapuna Borough Council, they were unanimous in askinr that the j>ower should be transferred.

Mr. T. Lament. Mayor of Devonport, said the north side of the harbour haj, traffic problems of its own. and at n» point did these affect Auckland citT. Another speaker was Mr. J. Henderson, Deputy Mayor of Devonport. who sail the marine boroughs claimed the right c| self government, and Mr. E also of Devonport. declared that tin destiny of the North Shore was different from that oi the city. "It is not difficult.'' said Mr. Aldridge, "t,4 visualise the time when there will he another metropolis on the northern shore, and we claim the right to administer our own transport rcguk« lions."'

Other speakers were Mr. E <i. Skeaten, Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. C. A. Deuxberry, flavor of Northcote, Mr. O'Halloran, chairman of the Waitemata County Council. Mr. Day, Waitemat* County Council. Mr. Walton, Birkdalc, Mr. Shepherd. Birkdale, and Mr. W. Minchin, president ol the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce.

Harbour as Dividing Line.

Mr. E. H. Northcroft (who was leading counsel in the successful action in thi Takapuna Borough Council) pointed out that the harbour formed a natural dividing line between Auckland city and the marine boroughs. "Traffic problems on opposite sides ot the harbourf' said Mr. Northcroft. "are as far divided as ai» those ol Auckland and InvercargilL Ther« is no point oi contact between them w hat ever."

Replying to the deputation. Mr. Coatel assured the speakers that the Government had not acted hurriedly in amending the Act. Their decision to appoint Auckland City Council as licensing authority had been arrived at after venr careful consideration. There the Act stood, and there it must stand until such time as its effect could be seen, fie could assure Mr. Harris that he realised the inlluential nature of the deputation, and. speaking for the Go\eminent, be could also assure all those present that the rights of local bodies and of the general public were not lost sight of. If. in its working, the Act was found t» create injustice or unfair competition it would most certainly be revised- Nothing could l»e done, however, until it had beca given a chance to be seen in operation. I Mr. Harris thanked Mr. Coaies for hi attentive hearing and courteous replji but added that he was sure careful con* t-ideration would convince him (th* I Premier) that injustice being dont to the marine boroughs.