'CENTRALISATION'

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 171, 22 July 1931, Page 10

'CENTRALISATION'

NEW TRANSPORT BILL POSITION IN AUCKLAND. u EVERYBODY SATISFIED." CRITICISM BY MR. ALLUM. "The board is bound to oppose certain ■provisions contained in the Transport Bill now before Parliament," said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Auckland Transport Board, this morning. "The position regarding transport in the metropolitan area is that everybody appears to be reasonably satisfied, and there, has been no desire for a change expressed. As far as the urban districts are concerned there is no demand for legislation; and. certainly nobody seems to be satisfied with the provisions contained in the Government's bill. "At the present time there is an insistent demand for reduction in the cost of "■overnment, both local and national, and definite opposition to the setting up of additional departments of State and control boards. The bill proposes to set up a number of district licensing authorities, a central licensing authority, and an appeal board. This means a Transport Department, at great expense to the community, and .the department evidently desiring to carry out the work at present being done by local authorities—and done well. "Centralisation in Wellington of all transport throughout New Zealand is the definite aim of the measure. In other words, instead of the Government governing the country and leaving local affairs to the control of local authorities, the Government evidently desires to curtail local activities and concentrate all authority in its own hands. There is a strong and growing dissatisfaction with this policy in other directions than transport, and the application of centralisation to the latter will not be appreciated by those in a position to express an opinion. On my recent visit to Wellington in connection \vith the bill, I ascertained that the opinions 1 am expressing are shared by other local bodies. Licensing Authority. " The appointment of licensing authorities is to be in the hands of the Minister. At present the licensing authorities are the leading local authorities in the various districts in which licenses operate, with the exception of Auckland, where the Transport Board is the licensing authority. This was the result of ' bargaining,' and effect was given to it by the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, of 1926. There were special circumstances, on account of existing competitors being bought out, and the authority was given in order to protect existing municipalities, who had expended large sums of money. It was confirmed in the Auckland Transport Act, of 1928, and oil the strength of that Act ratepayers have authorised the Transport Board to expend £585,000 on tramway extensions. " The suggestion that has been made that the Auckland Transport Board judges in its own cause is fallacious. Tffe boaj'd has statutory power for all it 3 actions, and when claims are received from private operators the board does no more than judge whether such operators shall 'for the time being enjoy a portion of the pub'jc right, and in many instances this right has been given. Government Appointees. Commenting on the provision that licensing authorities were to be appointed by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Allum pointed out that no person was to act who was financially interested, directly or indirectly, in. the business of carrying passengers, or who was a member, officer or servant of any State Department, local authority or other public" 'body carrying on any service to which the Act applied. It necessarily followed that men experienced in transport would be excluded from becoming members; and that did not appear to be in the interest of the public. The Minister had the right to remove a member for "incapability or misbehaviour." What that meant exactly was not stated. A clause provided for the recovery of costs by "common informers." He was of opinion that the chairman should be a judge of the Supreme Court. All applications for licenses had to be sent in the first instance to the Commissioner in Wellington, who would transmit them to the appropriate licensing authority. That meant delay, expense and red tape. The Closure. Criticising the proposal in respect of public sittings of licensing authorities, Mr. Allum said that there was provision for applying the closure, as the authority was given power ."not to receive further evidence or representations." Provision- was made for preference of applicants to 'be given to Government Departments and . local authorities under certain conditions, one of which was that the licensing authority was satisfied that the proposed service would not unfairly compete with existing services. "Just what this means is not quite clear," said Mr. Allum. "It may detrimentally affect some of the existing bus operatives." Private Operators. At the present time, said Mr. Allum, certain private operators had licenses in perpetuity, which could not be disturbed as long as the public was fairly treated. In addition, the Transport Board had issued licenses for various services for a period of five years. The Transport Bill, however, cancelled all these licenses, substituting "annual licenses." That did not need any comment. It was also provided under the bill that accounts should be kept and returns made by the licensees as directed by regulations to be issued. That would no doubt add to the cost of administration of the Act. . Inspectors were to be appointed with very wide powers. "There are very extraordinary clauses in the bill,"said' Mr. Allum. One provides that no proceedings shall be instituted or heard in any court in respect to any decision of any licensing authority or transport appeal bonrd or in respect to any decision of the Minister or Commissioner. In other words they are beyond the law." Another extraordinary provision was one concerning questions to be considered before ' determining applications for licensee. The bill proposed that the licensing authority should hear representations other than those heard in public. That meant that the board could be guided by private opinions from interested parties who had no real knowledge of transport problems. While the private affairs 'of operators would naturally not be made public, it was ■necessary that representatives of localJ ities should be made aware of the position of applicants. Evidence is now being prepared for submission to the Local Bille Committee ! and representatives of the Auckland I Transport Board will leave for Welling- . ton on Tuesday.