AUCKLAND TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 10

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, TRAMS, TRAINS AND BUSES, MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES. GUARANTEES BY LOCAL BODIES. [B? TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Following a conference between representatives of the Auckland City Council and the Government, the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, has agreed to recommend the Cabinet to accede to the request of the council that a commission of inquiry should be set up to make a complete survey of the transport problem in the Auckland metropolitan area in relation to passenger traffic, as affected by the tramways, the railways and motor omnibuses. Pending the appointment of the commission. the council has asked tho Prime Minister to advise the deputation from suburban local bodies which waited on him last week, and other responsible bodies, that it is prepared to run any motor service within the capacity of its plant which may be desired by a local authority, subject to the following conditions: — 1 (1) The various locail bodies; to guaranteo to the council a gross return of Is 6d per bus mile, the amount payable by any local body in the event of a dispute tc be determined by a Government auditor (2) The fares to be determined by the respective local bodies concerned, subject to the imposition of penal fares, in accordance with the provisions of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926. (3) The council will meet any local body or its representatives at any time to discuss proposals. (4) Until the local bodies have had a reasonable time to consider and deal with this suggestion, the council will maintain all omnibus services as now

existing. It has been suggested that the commission of inquiry should consist of three members, one, or preferably two, of whom should bo persons resident out of New Zealand. In addition to the range of inquiry set out in the covering order of reference as above, it is suggested that the commission should inquire specifically into (a) the administration, equipment and working of tho transport system of the Auckland City Council; (b) the best methods of providing for the transport requirements of the district; (c) the working of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926; (d) what legislative provision, if any, is required to effectively meet the requirements of the position, or to carry out the recommendations of the commission; (e) any other matter which seems to the commission relevant to the main subject of inquiry and worthy of investigation. Tho Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, headed the council's representatives on the conference, which was held to-day. The proceedings were in camera, and in communicating the above decisions, the Prime Minister said, that, after discussing the various aspects of the situation, the conclusions reached were considered the most suitable, as the initial steps in finding a solution of Auckland s transport problems. The order of reference of the proposed commission was to be taken as a draft only, and would be amplified if necessary.