The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Evening News and The Echo.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Evening News and The Echo.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resiatanotf For the future in the distance, And the good thai we oan do. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1929. CONFUSION AND BAD FEELING.

The debate on the flat rate fare proposal at the Transport Board meeting yesterday was not creditable to that body, and if members continue to display so much feeling they will seriously cut into the stock —which is perhaps not so large as they think —of public respect and confidence. When the Board was set up it was hoped that much of the bitterness between city and suburbs that had been engendered by transport developments and legislation would be assuaged, and the Board would settle down as a happy family to the consideration of the really grave problems that face Greater Auckland. This hope has not been realised. City and suburbs are represented by two opposing parties on the Board,, and feeling runs high between them. Such a debate as yesterday's will cause more of the public to regret that so long a time will elapse before the Board is elected by popular vote. -

The flat rate question has not been handled well by either side. Advocates of the change have not made out a case for an all-round threepenny fare. If travel was not affected, the system would earn another £.82,000 ii order to cover a possible deficit- of £22,000. Is it seriously proposed, that such an additional levy should be made? And if a smaller amount of additional revenue is expected, what is the estimate? On the other hand, opponents of the change have not been blameless. It was a mistake in tactics to present the general manager's report to the City Council and not to the Board. Nor was the chairman's attitude to the question at yesterday's meeting tactful. Bis motion to jettison the proposal, which was carried, meant that so far as the Board was concerned the incomplete and confused consideration that the idea had been given came to an- end. His reference to land speculation as the solo force behind the movement was unfortunate. Though the Board may be thoroughly well justified in rejecting the proposal, there is a right and a wrong way of doing such things. Moreover, the problem of meeting the possible deficit remains. What does the Board propose to do f