FLAT RATE FARES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 8

FLAT RATE FARES.

NO FURTHER ACTION.

TRANSPORT BOARD STORM.

CHAIRMAN PREVAILS.

VAIN SUBURBAN PROTEST.

One of the stormiest scenes in the brief history of the Auckland Transport Board was witnessed to-day when the chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, expressed his keen disappointment with the way in which the recent conference of local bodies, in respect to the proposed flat rate, was handled, and moved: "That all correspondence on the matter be •received and no further action be taken." The chairman said that neither the members of the board nor the officers had been invited, so that the proposal had received nothing more than ex parte consideration. In a trenchant speech he criticised the proposal to confer a benefit on a limited section of the community, and spoke of the move being influenced by considerations of land speculation. Making reference to propaganda, the chairman said that there were certain considerations under which they could respect it. Mr. Coyle: When it is fair. The Chairman: Yes, when it is fair. We have had propaganda from motor interests, but we can' respect that. The chairman said that, from information he had received from well informed citizens, he felt that he was justified in proposing that the board should close right down on the proposal and allow the next move to come from the ratepayers.

Suburban Mayors' Opposition. Mr. E. H. Potter: I think the resolution is out of order. Mr. L. E. Rhodes: It is altogether too immature. The local bodies have been asked for their opinion and before you get our answers you want to close down on the whole thing. I move as an amendment: "That this correspondence be received and referred to the committees, concerned for consideration/' Mr. Potter, in seconding the amendment, strongly protested against the proposal of the chairman, and put forward arguments in favour of a flat rate. There was a crossfire between Messrs. Potter and E. J. Phelan, the former expressing surprise that a Labour member should oppose the benefit which it was proposed to confer on a large bulk of the people. The chairman called Mr. Potter to order, and it was with difficulty that the latter was persuaded to resume his seat. "The^chairman is not going to prevent me from saying what I have to say," said Mr. Potter. . The Chairman: Mr. Potter, I cannot allow any member to refer to the political interests of another, member. After a lively, debate on the pros and cons of the matter, the chairman said the committee of the whole board had recommended the board to send information to local bodies asking for an opinion on the flat rate. The matter was now out of committee and should be dealt with by the board. Mr.*Morton Criticised. While Mr. F. S. Morton was in the midst of an impassioned speech on lines in keeping with those followed by Mr. Potter, Mr. Coyle interjected with the remark: "You have been predicting disaster ever since, you cams here." 'Mr. Morton: We have found that ever since the 31st of March we have been going back. It is our duty to see that transport is a paying proposition, and not to call on the ratepayers to make up deficiencies. Mr. Coyle: What you have been aiming at ever since you came here. Mr. Morton: I am sorry that I have . been interrupted by the cultured gentleman opposite, and I intend -to move a further amendment. Mr. Coyle: We get a great deal of advice from Mr. Morton, but we should be careful to remember that we are getting advice from a man who, before he came, here, advised Onehunga to pull '■ up the tram lines, and a man who came here with a deliberate idea of wrecking this undertaking. Mr. Morton demanded a withdrawal. The chairman ruled that "Mr. Coyle was giving expression to his own opinion, " and the. chair had heard nothing which should be withdrawn. Mr. Coyle said unless, he was asked to withdraw by the chair he would continue, and >he-thereupon proceeded further to criticise the tactics of those who were supporting the movement for the flat rate.

Mr. Rhodes: To whom do you refer? Mr. Coyle: Not to you. You are a fair-minded man. Mr. Potter took strong exception to the insinuation, and, at the request of the chair, Mr. Coyle withdrew his remarks. He went on to say that the board had had very little help from the two gentlemen whose actions had been to "scotch the wheels of progress." Mr. Potter: Balderdash! That statement is utterly false, and almost calls for a charge of libel. Mr. Coyle: Let us get down together to the task of making this undertaking a success. At 1 p.m. the chairman moved that the debate stand adjourned till 2 o'clock, but the motion was negatived. Mr. Phelan's Retort. "I am a Labour, member, it is true," said Mr. E. J. Phelan, in replying- to Mr. Potter. "I might be a P.P.A. member or a land speculator, and I think that a land speculator may be a greater danger to the community than a Labour member. I would like Mr. Potter to know that when I come to this board I come not as a Labour member, but to do my best for the undertaking as a whole. &M<JJ|?j Mr. Morton: Would you object to a poll of the ratepayers? Mr. Phelan: No. As soon as the people as a whole (not the ratepayers alone) show a desire for a poll, I will not oppose it. In the meantime I am going to oppose any proposal to penalise 76 per cent of the people for the benefit of the. remaining 24 per cent. , Mr.-Geo. Baildon supported the resoremarking that it was time tUat they closed down on the matter until they got information which would be more substantial than the garbled statements which were being made by two members of the board, who were gjrng round the district for that purd —ded I have heard no names - The points of order stated w «. * . M»-Baildon proceeded to endeavour to justify his contention that wronJ s tl+ P pients had been made. "LetSn'S^

a poll by all means, but let them have both sides of the matter placed before the people." Mr. Potter: Hear, hear. Mr. Morton: That is a fair statement.

"Muzzled Manager." The chairman, in closing the debate, expressed his regret that certain statements had been made concerning their general manager when the latter was not present'. If members desired to make such statements they should do so in the place where he could hit back. The manager was muzzled. "Mr. Ford is the tramways expert on this board," declared the chairman, "and there are far too many self-styled experts outside this board. That is the trouble." The amendment was lost. Mr. Morton moved a further amendment, "That the officers of this board be instructed to take a poll throughout the whole of the transport area on the fiat rate." ' This amendment was also lost, only Messrs. Morton, Rhodes and Potter supporting it. , The resolution moved by the chairman was carried, those voting in favour being the chairman, Messrs. Phelan, Coyle, Ashley, Wood, Entrican and Baildon.