TRANSPORT BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 255, 27 October 1928, Page 11

TRANSPORT BOARD.

POLL NEXT WEDNESDAY.

STATEMENT BT MAYOR.

FINANCES OF TRAMWAYS.

Polls of ratepayers will be held next Wednesday, in the city and suburban districts affected, to decide whether or not the Auckland Transport Board Act, 1928, shall become operative.

For the guidance of city ratepayers a statement has been issued by the Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon), who says that the point to be determined in the city is whether the tramways and buses shall be handed over to an Auckland Transport Board, which it is proposed shall deal with Auckland transport matters.

Referring to the main features of the Act, Mr. Baildon pointe dout that the proposed transport district would cmbrace the City of Auckland, the boroughs of Newmarket, Mount Eden, Mount Albert, Onehunga, the road dis-

tricts of Mount Wellington, One Tree Hill, Mount Roskill, the township of Panmure, and the town board district; of Ellerslie. There was provision for bringing in additional areas, 6ubjeet'to sanction of the Minister of Public Works. The board would be elected by the electors of those districts—six members from Auckland City, and four from the remaining districts. The first board, however, would be nominated by the local bodies in tlie combined district —four from the Auckland City Council and four from the other districts.

This board would hold office until May, 1931, except that any members could be removed and others appointed by the respective local bodies in May, 1929. The board would elect a chairman, who would hold office for two years. It was intended that the board should have vested, in it all tramway rights- within the district, and with the exception the existing bus services which will retain their present status, the board will have exclusive control of all bus services operating in its district. The board will acquire all assets, and take over all liabilities of the city tramways, and will undertake to pay all loan moneys raised by that department. It is stipulated that the tramways shall be taken over as a going concern from the beginning of the present financial year.

Proceeding the Mayor said the board would have power to raise loans in the usual manner, which would be a liability over the whole transport district, and may be secured by special rates. The pollfi in the city and en bur ban areas would be separate. Ratepayers only would be entitled to vote, this including the wives or husbands of actual ratepayers. A copy of the Act was available at the Town Hall for perusal. "Walk In, Walk Out." Iu reply to a request by ratepayers that information should be given in regard to the present financial position of the Auckland City Tramways, the answers appended have been obtained to the following specific questions asked: — Capital value of tramways undertaking as now existing?—£l,B69,ooo. Total loan indebtedness «^-£1>825,000Amount of sinking fund*?—£36B,2s6. Liabilities?— Bank overdraft, £44,000, and creditors and interest accrued, £43,869. What is the City Council to receive (if anything)?— The Transport Board is to take over the transport undertaking as a going concern on the principle, '"Walk in, walk out," and accepts responsibility for trading from April 1, 1928. » Where can a copy of the Transport Act be obtained? —From the Government printer, and a copy of the Act may be perused at the Town Hall. Position in Suburbs. In connection, with the suburban poll it is pointed out that a number of ratepayers will have niore than one vote, provided that they have the necessary voting qualifications in different districts. A ratepayer is entitled to exercise a vote on each roll on which his name appears.