WHEN WILL IT END?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 8

WHEN WILL IT END?

TRANSPORT COMMISSION

COSTS STEADILY MOUNTING

OVEJEt £100 A DAY.

CHAIRMAN ISSUES A WARNING

ITaving entered on its fifth week in session, the Auckland Transport Commission is anxious that extraneous matter should be eliminated from the evidence that has yet to be brought forward by the suburban bodies.

When it was intimated this morning by Mr. E. H. Northcroft, counsel for the suburban local bodies, that it was possible for him to call 50 more witnesses, the chairman of the commission (Mr. J.' N. Barton, S.M.) issued a warning that, if, iii the commissions opinion time was unnecessarily wasted by bringing in a number of persons who spoke as individuals, it would consider that circumstance in fixing the incidence of costs for the inquiry, which run well into three figures a day. Mr. Northcroft regarded this in the nature of a threat, but Mr. Barton said that such a sinister thought was far from his mind. He agreed that further evidence would be useful concerning bus mileage costs, conditions of passenger traffic beyond the area served by the trams, and a knowledge of the bad state of things that existed in 1923-24. When the business of the commission was resumed, Mr. Barton said the commission was now in its fifth week of inquiry, and it would like counsel for the local bodies to indicate now the issues they proposed to raise, and the number of witnesses they would V likely to call. It desired to estinki what further time was likely to be involved in the inquiry. I Winnowing Witnesses. Mr. Northcroft: There may be fur-J ther evideuce as to tlie running cost of buses. If that evidence is still available we will tender it for the assistance of the commission. Mr. Barton: We agree that that is good. Mr. Northcroft said that beyond that there was a good number of witnesses who were voluntarily prepared to associate themselves with the suburban local bodies, because the chairman of the commission had intimated that witnesses should tender themselves. That evidence would be for the purpose of showing the commission the experiences of citizens, with a view to directing attention to the deficiency of the city's transport system. Mr. Barton: How many witnesses are there? Mr. Northcroft: Probably fifty, but they will require some winnowing. Mr. Barton said that he had had numerous letters from people concerning their experiences of Auckland's transport system, but he would not hear individual complaints rrom individual tram passengers. "I have no doubt that you could call 150 witnesses to tender evidence to show that this system or any other system in the city was bad. On the other hand, I have no doubt 130 witnesses could be called to give an opposite view.'' If counsel for the suburban local bodies persisted in calling unnecessary witnesses, they must bear in mind that they would Lie mul.d.ed in the costs of the inquiry. The commission had already had evidence on most of the aspects of transport from responsible men, such as Messrs. Potter, Eady and Bloodworth. He suggested that a statement could be prepared by the outside bodies covering Uie views of the general body of their witnesses to prevent undue repetition. Costs of Commission. In response to a question by Mr. Northcroft, the chairman explained that the commission had not so fur arrived at decision rehit.he to th.r Create.Auckland scheme, lie added that, apart from legal costs, the cost of the inquiry was banking up well into three figures a day. It was not cconmical to ca.ll unnecessary witnesses.

Proceeding, Mr. Barton said lie did not criticise the right of counsel to call witnesses, but if two representative men could establish what 50 less representative people attempted to establish, it was desirable that they should do so.

Mr. Northcroft: It is no desire of ours to present 50 witnesses.

He contended there was a steadily accumulating degree of inefficiency creeping into the transport system in 1923, although to-day the tram system was reasonably well carrying the passengers within the tram area. The much more important question for the commission was the effect of the present system beyond the tram termini, it was in respect to the latter matter that he wanted to call evidence. Advancement of "Pet" Theories. The commission had been set up to discuss transport facilities, but at times it had got far away from the point, as some witnesses had advanced their - 'pet" theories. -.Ir. Barton: I cannot a;rree with that. Evidence Lad been tendered to sliovv how the admitted difficulties could be met by the establishment of certain I boards. One of the instructions in the ' order of reference was to inquire into I the desirability of a transport board. j Mr. Northcroft: Under that heading we have l>een asked to consider the constitution, rating and electrical systems of some metropolitan board, and matters advanced ex parte. All the discussion relative to the greater Auckland project, he maintained, was entirely foreign. Mr. Barton: I think the time has been usefully spent. The best way to get at the best system i 3 not to concentrate on a transport board only. Mr. Northcroft asked if evidence was to be called relative to mileage costs, and conditions beyond the termini would he be given ime to prepare it? Mr. Barton: Certainly! Asked by Mr. A. H. Johnstone (counsel for the city) if he might call Mr. Cable (traffic inspector of Wellington), who was visiting Auckland, to give evidence, Mr. Barton replied in the affirmative. Evidence as to the costs per bus mile in Wellington would be useful. Henry Bransgrove (traffic inspector for the Mount Eden Borough Council) continued his evidence from Friday. He believed that if a check were kept on the fcuses on the Dominion Road and Mount Eden Road rontes between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 noon and 2 p.m. and 4 pan., it would be found that tliey were running practically empty. "Serious Economic Loss." Observations on the tramway system in the metropolitan area, both before and after the passing of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, were made Mr.

Cewis Joll, a member of the Mount Borough Council. He said that yrior to the enactment, the services provided reasonable facilities, but were not under sufficient control by responsible authority. Had the control been sufficient, however, the services then provided were adequate both from a public and private viewpoint. It was now obvious to him that tl re had been serious economic loss and serious inconvenience in the outer areas as a direct result of the administration of the Act. There was a considerable loss of time in travelling, and consequent loss of money to the whole community. One direct cause of the loss of time was the feeder lr.:s system, which was un-

suitable and impracticable. W;'<te in administration had also been noticed. Wages were paid to drivers on the .Mount Eden bus line, when practically two-thirds of their time was occupied in waiting at each end of their runs.

"I am satisfied that the most suitable form of passenger transport for the metropolitan area is a combination of the tramway system with controlled buses," added witness. "The substitution, wherever possible of the trolley buses has been more mobile and cheaper than the tramways. I think the tramway system should be continued under careful control in order to avoid loss of capital, and it should be gradually replaced bv a system of trolley buses driven by electricity. This, no doubt, would later be followed in the more congested areas by the underground electric railway. ... I think the only constitutional method to be adopted is to provide for an elective board to control the whole of the transport in the metropolitan area in the interests of public safety."

Witness considered the present control was wholly unjust, as oil a. complaint being received the Auckland City Council was judge and defendert of its own case. Mount Eden's Offer. "I am deputed as a member of the Mount Eden Borough Council to tender evidence expressing the views of thai council on the transport subject," added witness. "The evidence outlined expresses my own opinion and is the unanimous view of the Mount Eden Borough Council as a body. I am authorised to state that in return for proper representation on a transport board, and to improve the present intolerable position in the suburban areas, my council would advise its ratepayers to accept its proportion of financial responsibility for the present transport assets, subject to them being properly valued." Questioned by the Commissioner, witness said he was unable to present his authority for making the latter statement. Must Prove His Authority. Mr. Barton said that till he reached the last two paragraphs in witness' evidence he had regarded him as an individual, anil lie was wondering how many other citizens held equal views. Now he knew Ive was deputed to give evidence for a local body, but Mr. Joll knew of no resolution that gave, him authority. The only way the Mount Eden Borough Council could express an opinion was by corporate resolution. The latter body had occupied quite a considerable amount of the time of the expensive commission.

Mr. Stanton, city solicitor, said that Mr. Potter, the official representative of the council, produced a resolution of 1927 which gave him authority to express Mount Eden's views. He was quite silent about any resolution concern in : r Mr. -To!!. Mr. Good man: It. lias placed the commission in nn unfortunate position. Time i.-t being waited by an opinion e\-prc-~ed and claimed to be that of the council. Mr. Barton told Mr. Joll that he must produce the council's minute book in support of his statement, or else get a certificate from the town clerk to justify his position before the commission. Mr. Joll retired from the witness stand with an intimation that he would endeavour to make himself clear. Mr. Barton: Your borough will have to face the question of costs. Proftt on Power Supply. M;'"hc'.v Cab!<- (g< ii<t;:l manager of the Welling! f:n City Cnuneil tramway and electricity departments) was next called. He said that for the year ended March, 15)27, power had cost the tramways department O.fkl per unit, as compared with 0.83 d for the year ended March, 1928. A profit was made by the electricity department, which supplied the direct current to the tramways.

(Proceeding.)