THE TRANSPORT LOAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 85, 11 April 1929, Page 11

THE TRANSPORT LOAN.

SUPPORT FROM ONEHUNGA.

MR. ALLUM MEETS RETAILERS BOARD'S PROPOSALS APPROVED. Mr. J. A. C. Allum. chairman of the Auckland transport Board, addressed a public meeting at Onehunga last night under the auspices of the Onehunga Retailers' Association. Mr. -T. pre-iding. Other members of the Transport Board present were Messrs. M. J. Coyle, J. Wood, G. Ashley and F. S. Morton. and Messrs. A. Ford, H. H. Morgan and S. f. J. Clark, secretary.

The chairman said his association hid intended to send a deputation to tht-Tran-sport Board for information about the loan proposals, but that was not found necessary, as Mr. Ailum had consented to visit Onehunga and address the ratepayers on the subject. Onehunga. said the chairman, wished to see an efficient, safe and paying tram seivice between there and Auckland.

Mr. Alliun said he considered that Onehunga had little to complain of other than those faults pertaining to the service in general. Onehunga -.-mild not reasonably expect any concession in the service that could not be given t> other districts. He thought the people of Onehunga did not fully realise the service they had received during the past from the trams. They had "ha.i a bus service, which, no do;ibt. pleaded many people because of the cheap fares, but it )ud not been a pavinz servi.ji-. The distance from Onehunga to the city a> j • miles, and the fares would more than favourably compare with other places. Workers' tickers cost for 7 A mile-. A return ticket was lld to Onehunga, and lOd to the Roval Oak. Then they could travel to the *Zoo and back, a distance of 22 miles, for 1/. At one time Onehunga had a five-minute service to fight the buses, and it would have been retained after the buses left if the traffic had warranted it, bjt it did not. A number of cars were taken off the Onehunga route last August, but not until after careful inquirv. A special bus service put on to Onehunga had not paid for axle grease. Now thev had a Si-minute service to the Royal Oak and an 11-minute service to Onehunga. At peak hours they had 23 cars to the terminus, three more" to Onehunga North, with another three to the Royal Oak, and the longest time for a oneway trip was 40 minutes for the 7$ miles. Then Onehunga had a later carat night than any other place in tne tram area, the last car for Onehunga leaving the city at 12.5 a.m. C

\\ hile giving this information, he frankly admitted that more must be done for Onehunga, and it would he done if the loan were carried. He stressed the wisdom of voting for both sums named in the loan proposals. In answer to the chairman's request for a reduction in the cost of workmen's weekly tickets. Mr. Alluni said he eoull hold out no hope for the present, as r had heen proved that the tickets were issued now at practically cost p.-ice. Neither could the board introduce minimum fare* on the Onehunga car* owing to l*ek of rolling stock. As for a special service to the outer area of the bir"ueli. the trouble was that it did not pay.

Mr. Allum snooted that the Onehunga Retailers' Association sliould consider what they wanted in this respect and place their views lx>fore the Transport Board, who would give it a Trial if the association would at the same time gne the hoard some sort of £uarnnt'.c to meet the e\r>en~os of benzine, drivers' wa;es and tyres. Mr. Allum concluded his address hv reminding the meeting t fiat the whole'of the shopping area in Onehun;_ r a was within the 2d section. This did not obtain in anv other district served hy the trams.

After some discussion, the meeting adopted a resolution proposed by the chairman, thanking Mr. Allum for his lund address, and expressing ; ts a p. prova] nf the Transport Board's i,. Hn proposals as outlined therein hv Mr. Allum.

Mr. Allum said the work to he put in hand hy the board with loan monev would <ro a Ion? way toward* m]v;r,; the unemployment question in Au.klan L