Transport Board Calls For Report On Passes

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29380, 6 December 1960, Page 16

Transport Board Calls For Report On Passes

The issue of private free passes on buses sought by the Waimairi County Council opened the whole question of passes at yesterday’s meeting of the Christchurch Transport Board.

In the past, the custom had been to issue passes to the mayor and councillors of • the Christchurch City Council, the Mayor of Riccarton, the chairman of the Drainage Board, and the chairmen of the counties of Waimairi, Heathcote, Halswell and Paparua, reported the general manager (Mr J. F. Fardell). If an extension were granted to Waimairi, there would be no justification for excluding county councils and the Riccarton Borough Council. Fiftyfive additional persons would then qualify.

“I feel the board is far too “The pass is very seldom free with its destribution of free claimed by me, and if I don’t use passes, in view of its financial my car I pay my fare,” said Mr position,” said Mr R. H. StillwelL W. S. Mac Gibbon. “That is my “Instead of increasing the passes, personal business but those counthis board should be thinking of cillors who administer the whole discouraging their use. If we cop- territory covered by the board tinue this uneconomic policy of should have the same right as issuing free passes to the Mayor city councillors. The privilege is and city councillors, the Wai- not abused. Mr J. Shankland mairi County Council and others Junr, who is usually on a bus. have a claim to the same privi- will know it is not. The pass is leges. This practice will snow- ah honour and privilege respected ball and get out of bounds. The by the holders.” principle is wrong.” Mr Forbes: A Metropolitan Why did the chairman' of the Board of Works is the answer. Drainage Board receive a free The courtesy should be expass and not the chairmen of the tended to other councillors, said hospital, catchment and rabbit the chairman (Mr J. Palmer), boards? asked Mr N. R. Forbes. Most used their own cars. It was going from the sublime to The board’s sinking fund comthe ridiculous. Passes for county missioners had passes—some of clerks had been cut out. them gold—for life, said Mr R. G.

Moving that a report on all free passes be brought down, Mr Stillwell said even passes for the board’s staff were included. Mr Fardell: It is part of the award conditions. “What about retired officers?” asked Mr Stillwell. Mr Fardell: They get passes for 7s 6d a year. The same privilege as if they are here. Use by Councillors As a member “entitled to two passes,” Mr E. J. Bradshaw suggested that the question should not engender any heat. As territorial administrators, the Waimairi councillors’ application was well, merited, they were equally entitled to consideration as were city councillors. Apart from Mr J. L. Hay during the war when petrol was short and the late Mr C. D. W. L. Sheppard, he had not seen any city councillor on a bus, said Mr Bradshaw.

Brown. Mr Stillwell was right in asking for an investigation. Mr Mac Gibbon withdrew his amendment that the Waimairi request be granted and the courtesy of free passes be offered to members of other local bodies, and Mr Stillwell’s motion was carried.