AUCKLAND TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 10

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT.

SCHEME FOR CONTROL. passage of the bill. GOOD SPIRIT IN CONFERENCES. PRIME ' MINISTER'S TRIBUTE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Saturday. The Auckland Transport Board Act is now ready to receive the endorsement of t] ie City Council, on whoso decision depends whether or not the proposed scheme for the control of transport in the metropolitan district will be submitted to the ratepayers of the city and suburbs concerned. The measure was put through its final stages in the House of Representatives at three o'clock this morning, and to-day it was passed by the Legislative Council. _ Moving the seoond reading of the bill ;n the House this morning the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, said the bill was not out of order. Previous rulings were given showing that the bill could bo introduced in the way it had appeared. He expressed his personal appreciation of the wide outlook taken up by the Auckland members associated in the conferences at Wellington, which led to unanimity being reached. The local authorities had also worked hard and well The bill itself may have been rushed, but the proposals for the solution of the problem had not been. There'was a desire in Auckland that the question of transport should be settled for a year or two to give the people an opportunity to review the situation calmly. Assistance from Mr. Coates.

Mr. M. J. Savago (Auckland West) expressed his appreciation of the co-opera-tion of other Auckland members in bringing about a settlement of a question which had been a knotty problem for a number of years. Representatives of the local bodies concerned in the bill had consulted the members, and the results were contained in the bill. .No one member could say there was everything in the bill he would like to see there. For instance, he would like to sec some representation of the Tramways Union on the board, but he was content with having obtained something with which to-start. The assistance which had been given by the Prime Minister was not the least factor in bringing about the settlement. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) also joined in the eulogy of the good spirit which had influenced the whole of the discussions and conferences on the bill. He hoped the measure would be the means of providing a solution of Auckland's transport problems. His views concerning private bus services were well known, and he was pleased to bo able to say that provision had been made for the preservation of the existing bus services so long as they gave the public the service that was expected of them. Modification of Ideas. "All of us have been compelled to accept modifications of our ideas to obtain something that will, ve hope, be the means of clearing away the transport difficulties," said Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East). He also joined in the congratulations concerning the harmonious spirit which had ruled at the conferences. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) extended his goodwill to Auckland in its endeavours to find a solution oE the transport issues. There* was evidence of a master stroke in the bringing together of all the conflicting interests concerned. If the same spirit of harmony which had prevailed in tho conferences in Wellington was extended to the functioning of the board its success was assured. The bill contained one unique feature, in that it was subject to the approval of the chief local body concerned, the City Council. Tho bill was then read a second time, put through Committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. " The traffic in Auckland is a public scandal," said the Hon. G. J. Garland when the bill was under discussion in the Legislative Council. "I do not believe that any six men on the Auckland City Council could get back if they tried—not even the Mayor or deputy-mayor. I hope, too, that most of the councillors will not get back again, yet under this bill the council is given power to select six of its members for the first board, and they are to remain members until 1931. The first thing there should be is an election for the board.

" A Redeeming Feature." " There is, however, one redeeming feature, that the ratepayers will in due course have a say in tho election of the board. Then there will bo a better state of affairs than under tho Auckland City Council. It is a great mistake to take a bill of this kind at this late period of the session. The bill should have gono to a committee for a report to bo brought beforo tho council." Tho Hon. C. J. Carrington said lie know from experience of tho great hardship inflicted on residents living in tho suburbs owing to transport difficulties, lie thought it would be a great hardship if the measure did not go through, and give suburban residents relief from the position they were in to-day. Tho Hon. W. H. Mclntyrc remarked that he could not see any improvement for the first 12 months as a result of the operations of the board. Tho chairman of tho board should lie a man of business acumen. Ho did not think he should bo a member of the Auckland City Council. The bill was passed without amendment. The final section of the Act provides that within 14 days a special meeting of the City Council is to bo held, at which the council will determine whether it approves the Act. If tho necessary resolution is carried, polls of tho ratepayers in the city and the suburban districts are to bo taken within 42 days of tho passing of the Act to decide whether it shall come into operation.