LIVELY MEETING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 17, 15 October 1926, Page 10

LIVELY MEETING

—— TAKAPUNA TRAMS AND FERRY MR. HARRIS CAUSES UPROAR » Dominion Special. Auckland, October 11. Noisy demonstrations and interjections punctuated a meeting in the Auckland Chamber ot Commerce when tile 'lukapuna Borough Council’s proposals to purchase the Takapuna tramways and ferry plant was opposed by a number of speakers on behalf of the Takapuna and Wiltord Ratepayers’ Association The chairman (Mr. J- F. Colegrove) had a difficult task in obtaining order during the earlier stages of the. meeting, his voice being completely drowned at times by excited argument among those present. Mr. A. Harris. M.P., spoke through a running fire of interjections when he referred in scathing terms to the circulation of a leaflet in Takapuna that morning. “It is signed by the Takapuna r<-opertv-owners’ Committee.” said Mr. Harris, “but I have proof positive that it is the Takapuna Ferry Company.” Cries of “No” and “Untrue.” Mr. Moller: Mr. Chairman, I object; I am secretary of that body. Mr. Harris quoted from the leaflet: “Do not be misled by deceptive halftruths. Support the Mayor and council, who tell the whole truth and are in nobody’s pav ” “That,” declared Mr. Harris, with some heat, “is the meanest and most contemptible dodger ever put before the public (Uproar.) I ask the authors to say which of those men opposing the tramway purchase is in anybody’s pav.” Mr. Moller: Is not Mr. Gould the paid advocate of the busmen? (Renewed uproar.) Mr Harris: Mr. Gould in his professional capacity can act for anyone he likes. I repeat that no one person opposing the municipalisation of the trams is in ativone’s pay. Mr. A. M. Gould said that he was the professional adviser of the owner of the bus service to Devonnort. and went to Wellington to represent his interests before the Parliamentary Committee. When, however, he addressed a public meeting, as he was doing then, it was not as professional adviser to the busowner, hut ns a ratenaver of the borough. Fie did not pronose to be in the contest just because throil"h bis former capacity as Mayor be had "nined a special knowledge of the tramway cniestion that would be useful in the present campaign. The meeting ended inconclusively.