SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 10

SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

The conflict between the suburban local authorities and the City Council in respect of transport services has been clarified, if not completely resolved, by the decisions of yesterday's conference, comprising representatives of all the districts concerned in the question. The conference decided to reject the council's proposal of guarantees and to rely upon private enterprise to provide services, subject to the provisions of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act The only condition mentioned in connection wit;b the offers by private operators reported to the conference is that they should be given some permanence of tenure. That is su reasonable that it hardly needs affirmation The proposition should be cordially welcomed by the City Council, and every means taken to remove any obstacles to its adoption. The result would establish almost exactly the position that was sought by the City Council in the early stages of the controversy-—its responsibility would be restricted to the j operation of the tramways, and private enterprise would be free to serve the outer districts, both being protected from competition by the operation of the Omnibus Act. There is no reason why the field for private enterprise should not include portions of the city not served by tram ways, so long as it is willing to abstain from "piratical" manoeuvres. The proposal implies the abandonment of the council's conception of a monopoly—a policy that was inherently foolish and the enforce ment of which has been possible only because the council was appointed the licensing authority. In spite of some confusion in the definition, it is clear that the transport board recommended by yesterday's conference is intended to be a controlling authority only, not a new organisa , tion to take over tramways or other services. Its substitution for the existing arrangement would be another step back to the original conception of reasonable control that has been so sadly obscured by hasty legislation and reckless administration. There may be some difficulty

in regard to services on routes including proposed tramway extensions, but thaßt is not' insuperable. The council's inclination might be to maintain its own bus services as a means of preserving the right-of-way for trams. A sounder course would be a declaration that any district asking for trajmwa.y extensions to displace established bus services must itself bear th<* cost of any compensation. The decision of conference the proposed inquiry, and pledging its members to ignore it, is regrettable. Auckland's transport faculties must keep pace with the growth of the metropolis, and the inquiry will be disappointing if it does not at least sketch the character of future developments. If the commission is denied the assistance of suburban interests, its survey of the problem will be seriously The conference may well review its attitude toward the commission. Its recommendations regarding the immediate difficulties cannot be tm sneedilv brought intr> operation next, move prohnhlv wit^ l HNp Ci +v l O/Niinnil JFov i* the way is now open to escape from -:' 4 • '' never have undertaken, and. thoucrb the solution, dorp nnt nromis" hp" "omnenßatifm for its heavv Ir>e«»p 'loes mean that fbcv can he cu + short, and the citv ratepayers relieved of intnlern'Mo V>nrden.