AUCKLAND TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 14

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT.

Sir, —The terms and conditions on which the deputation from the Auckland City Council has arranged with the Prime Alin-, ister as a means for securing adequate and reasonable transport service for the metropolitan area of Auckland is highly amusing, and is of such a nature that it will not be readily accepted by the neighbouring local authorities. The first condition is the bone of contention. This condition states that the City Council will give the local authorities reasonable and adequate service on a guarantee of Is 6d per bus mile, as against private enterprise of lCd per rnile. The City Council sought the assistance of Parliament and was largely instrumental in having the Motor Omnibus Act passed, which gave it a solo monopoly and absolute control of all the transport in and around Auckland City. Since th's control has been assumed matters have gone from bad to worse; the services are inadequate, and the fares have risen in many cases nearly 100 per cent The council has had a fair trial, has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Now, when it is at its lowest ebb, it wishes to throw the financial burden of its huge motor buses on the shoulders of the local bodies at a prohibitive rate pef running mile. There is not the slightest chance of these terms being accepted by the local bodies, who for the past fifteen months have seen the disastrous and chaotic state of affairs created by a body with autocratic powers. The only solution to the problem would be for the City Council to withdraw all its buses from beyond the various tram termini, and allow the local bodies through a representative licensing authority to run their own buses by private enterpriso to and from the city. This procedure would give immediate relief to the tram finances and as a private enterprise can be operated at lOd per mile against Is 6d charged by tha city, it would provide an excellent service* at a reasonable rate, to those residents and ratepayers who live miles beyond the various tram termini and who have every reason to be dissatisfied with the present inadequate and costly service rendered by the City Council. L. A. Tozer.