MAY MEAN LEVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 169, 18 July 1936, Page 12

MAY MEAN LEVY.

MEETING EXTRA COST. BOARD'S POWER UNDER ACT. The introduction of the 40-hour week by tho Transport Board raises the possibility of the board striking a levy over the area in the district constituted by tho Auckland Transport Board Act of 1928. „ . , , The board's estimate of receipts ancl expenditure for the current toaneml year anticipates a deficit of £2000 at the end of the year and apparently there are only two sources by which the additional expenditure can be met, namely, by raising the fares or by striking a levy. The provision of the Act covering a levy has not hitheito been enforced. . The restoration of the cuts, the introduction of the 40-hour week and the reduction of the fares were three of the planks of the Labour candidates for the board election, and the restoration of tho cuts was carried out when its members obtained a majority on the board at tho election. The raising of the fares, apart from being in contradiction to election pledges, would, it is considered, defeat its own ends and the only other alternative it is stated by officials of local bodies concerned, scorns to be the striking of a levy. Several Mayors of boroughs interested, when questioned on this aspect this morning stated that the local bodies would have 110 say in the matter, for there was I statutory power for the enforcement of the levy. The section of the Auckland Transport Board Act of 1928, which empowers the striking of a levy for excess of expenditure, reads as follows: "In any year in which the amount of the estimated expenditure exceeds the amount of the estimated income the amount of tlie excess may be raised by a levy upon the local authorities in tho district apportioned among them, in proportion To the capital value of tlie rateable property in oach constituent district, as determined by the ValuerGeneral under the Valuation of Land Act, 1925 as being approximately correct as oil the first day of April in the financial year in which tho levy is made." On making such levy the board shall furnish to each local authority in the district a copy of the estimate and a statement showing the amount apportioned to each ljfril authority. There are further provisions for enforcing the ] t .vv and its collection in instalments. The board's district comprises the city of Auckland together with the borouislis of Mount Eden, Mount Albert X.iwmarV-t Oiw Tree Hill and Onc-

liunga mill the road districts of Mount Roskill, Mount Wellington, the Paninure township and the town district of Ellerslie. Beyond saying t.liat the matter would probably be discussed at the next mooting of the board the manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, declined to-day to comment on possible action by the board to meet the increased costs.

MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.

UNION'S NEW PROPOSALS. Following conferences between the Auckland Transport Board and assessors of the Auckland Tramways Employees' Union special general meetings of the union will be held on Tuesday next when the assessors will present a report for the ratification of a proposed new agreement to be worked under the 40-hour week. It is expected that the meetings •will be largely attended. Commenting upon the proposals in the new agreement which had been drawn up, Mr. J. O. Lkldell, secretary of the union, said this morning that if the proposals are endorsed he liad no doubts whatever about the 40-liour week being workable in the Auckland tramways service, as all tlie working details bad been fully considered. The schedule had been so completed as to ensure the smooth working of tlie roster, and a report of the assessors' conclusions had been presented to tlie Transport Board management. 4