SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19808, 1 December 1927, Page 12

SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

FUTURE OF BUS SERVICES. THE GUARANTEE PROPOSAL. LOCAL BODIES* OBJECTIONS. Opposition to the proposal that local bodies should guaranteo a gross return of Is 6d a bus mile on services conducted by the City Council was freely expressed yes terday. This latest development in the suburban transport problem—the result of a conference between the Prime Minister and the City Council representatives—will be discussed at a meeting'of local bodies this afternoon. The proposed guarantee is to operate until such time as effect can be given to the recommendations of a commission of inquiry, which is shortly to be set up to make a complete survey of the transport problem in Auckland. Invitations to attend to-day's conference have been issued by the Mount Roskill Road Board to all local bodies in the metropolitan area, with the exception of the City Council. The City Council has announced it is prepared to run any omnibus service within the capacity of its plant 'thai 1 , local bodies desire, subject, to certain stipulations, of which the guarantee is the: chief.

"Oftr offer is a fair one," said Mr. J. A. C. Allurn, chairman of the Tramways Committee of the City Council, who returned from Wellington yesterday. "It is now for the local' bodies to consider the offer." He added the figure of Is 6d compared more than favourably with the operating costs of other largo undertakings. The fares to be charged would be determined by the local bodies concerned, and the matter of financing the services was now entirely in their hands. He was very hopeful the local bodies would regard the offer as a reasonable one, and would accept it. "Scheme is Unworkable." Mr. Allum added that a detailed reply to the various allegations made by the deputation representing suburban transport interests, which waited on the Prinre Minister last week, was being prepared by the City Council and would be forwarded to Wellington. "The scheme is unworkable," said Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden. "Transport was destroyed owing to the bus legislation, and attempts by the tramways department to organise services have resulted in a loss. In my opinion, the suggestion that the services should be continued with the payment of guarantees in addition to fares, is to impose a burden which cannot be considered. The outer areas are in a desperate condition, and residents are finding it impossible to pay the present heavy charges." The opinion was ventured by Mr. Potter that the buses were being asked to bear part of the financial burden, which should be carried by the trams.

"I do not think there is any chanco of our coming to terms on the basis of Is 6d," said Mr. E. F. Jones, chairman of the Mount Ror-kill Road Board. "Private enterprise has shown it can run services and make them pay at lid, and I believe such can bo done." Basic Cost Too High. "We could not be a party to committing our ratepayers to such a liability," said Mr R. G. Clark, chairman of the One Tree Hill Road Board, in reference to the suggested guarantee. He admitted the district was at present fairly well served, but he would not say tlio service was sufficient to meet the increasing population. Mr. Clark considered buses could be successfully run for a good deal less than Is 6d a mile, a sum which was so high that this district could not consider the meeting of the proposed subsidy. A similar proposition nad been made to the board before the Campbell Koad service was discontinued, added Mr Clark, but, as the annual loss was about £IBOO, the board had been unable to consider the subsidising of the service. Doubts whether the charge of Is 6d could be justified were also expressed by Mrj W. L. Titchener, chairman of the New Lynn Town Board.