TRANSPORT CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 22 August 1930, Page 11

TRANSPORT CONTROL.

SYSTEM OF ELECTION.

ALTEBATIOX OPPOSED.

LOCAL BODIES' DECISION,

Interference with the present method of electing members of the Auckland Transport Board is not desired at the present juncture by the majority of local bodies in the board's, area. Br five votes to four, a conference.of representatives of the. City, Mount Eden. Mount Albert, Newmarket, Onehunga and One- Tree Borough Councils, the Ellerslie Town Board, and the Mount Wellington and Mount Boskill Eoad Boards, held last evening, defeated a motion proposing that the Transport- Board Act be amended in order that the forthcoming election of members of the Transport Board might he taken over the whole of the board's area instead of in three' separate dis-ij tricts as at present. "This conference has been prompted bv the discussion in Parliament relative to the possible alteration in the method of electing, the Transport Board:' said Mr. S. Donaldson, Mayor of Newmarket, who presided. "■! thought the best method of deciding the question was io invite discussion by the interested bodies.'' - ■ Change Supported. ' '•The unanimous opinion of the. One Tree Hill Borough Council is that the change should be brought about," said Mr. I. J. Goldstine. "We feel we have not received the representation on the board that we hoped to receive." It was obvious that with voting power; of G to 4, the City Council representatives tinder the present system, if they so desired, could dominate the. Transport Board. If an election were held, greater satisfaction would be felt by outer local bodies. Although there was' a preponderance- of city electors, he felt sure a fair deal would be given ths; nominees of local bodies apart from the City. Council. . Also the bearer of-a unanimous resolution favonrins. au election, 3lr. TV.-H. Xagle. MouWEden, said that the Transport Board 'assumed that the ra:vs for) altered franchise .was a reflection on its I work: That was not the case. In the j interest? &i' Greater and the welfare of general transport-his council contended 'the'time had arrived for a fresh basis of election.. He moved: '"That this conference requests the Government to amend the Transport Act to" provide that the • forthcoming election of t.ie; Auckland Transport Board be held over the. whole ' transport area; and further : that it deem** this necessary in the best interests of future "transport." • ' " Only Temporary Measure." Arming-that the Transport Bill was never intended to be left in its pi eseru form. Mr. R. G. Clark (One Tree Hill), seconded the motion.- "The bill was only considered i a temporary measure,, he said.' " r .• ' ) . One of "the ci ty delegates, Mr. J. B. Paterson. said that 90 per cent ot the Transport. Board members were in agreement. How the movement tor a different system of election had cropped up no one.appeared to know. The City Council was * opposed. to -the suggestion, as the representation on the board was fixed bv the Transport Commission. Sttrelv it should be allowed to stand till the first election in 1931. It was possible that the outer local bodies would suffer if an election were held. -I think it is the greatest mistake in the world to raise any feeling-between the 'Citv Council and the outside local bodies," "said the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican. He appealed to the conference to bury the hatchet and work i.oi the good of the whole of the Auckland area with a united-front. "Had to Fight Every Inch." ."If there is any ill-feeling it is the citv that is responsible," declared MrDonaldson. Mr. Entrican: Absolutely not. I deny it.-. ' , , Mr. Donaldson: You have had your say. Let me have mine. I make, that statement deliberately. The outside bodies have had to fight- every inch of the way to get the control of the trams awav from the city. Mr. ; Entriean said there had been no sop for the city in the setting up of the Transport Board. Representation was based on population and capital value. ■ .-.Mr. Donaldson: I don't think any or the local bodies can say they have been. satisfied. If they are, it is quite a recent announcement. ■ After further discussion, voting-on the motion, resulted as follows: — For: Mount Eden, One Tree Hill and .Newmarket Councils and Mount Roskill Road Board. Against: Onehunga. Mount Albert and City Councils and Mount Wellington Road Beard and the EllerSiie Town Board.