TRANSPORT PROBLEM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 July 1928, Page 9

TRANSPORT PROBLEM

AUCKLAND COMMISSION'S REPORT. (By Telegraph —Press Association^ WELLINGTON, Juy 28. The Hon. lv. S. Williams. Minister of public Works, laid on the table; in the House of Representatives to-day the report of the Royal Commission .set up to consider transport problems in the city of Auckland. The commission found: (1) That the existing transport system was suitable 10-r the said district; (2) that existing transport services arc adequate for the requirements of such district; anil (3) that the present transput isyistean of tine said) district iis efficient. The commission recommends the formation of a special transport board .to deal with tiie problems. The board shat l , be the local authority and shall ooiifetist of ten members elected by ratepayers in speedlied areas. When the 'Minister moved his motion, Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) asked if the Government proposed to give legislative effect to tlsp recommendations of the; commission. fine Prime Minister replied: “Wait and see.” Mr H. G. R. Mason (Eden) and J. A. Lee (Auckland Fast) criticised the. failure of the Government to tackle, and solve Auckland’s transport problems, and said it had appointed a commiisistiion merely to evade the task. The Prime Minister, in reply, isia.id Auckland’s problems were not neatly any affair of the Government, but there were so many conflicting opinions msi to what course should be pursued that it was deemed advisable to appoint acornmission. The question wais whether the recomimenclaitionsi of the commission concerned the Government. They were jeally the affairs of Auckland’s ’local authorities, and it was a question for them, to way how fair the recommendations of the commrs-rron met their views. The ’bus regulations .concerned tlie whole Dominion and affected everyone alike, but the effect of those- regulations on Auckland locally was not the business of Parliament, which was not called upon .to legislate for every local problem? What he meant bv “wait and see” was that tb» local authorities had first to be informed of J -V..e recommendations of the commission, and it was for tli*m to my what legislation they desired.