THE TRANSPORT ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 14

THE TRANSPORT ACT.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.

THREE ADVERSE OPINIONS.

POLL OF THE RATEPAYERS.

DATE FIXED FOR OCTOBER ,31.

Approving with three dissentients of the Auckland Transport Board Act, passed by Parliament last week, the City Council decided yesterday to take tho prescribed poll of ratopayurn on tho same question on October 31. Local authorities in other portions of tho transport district also intend to fix tho poll of suburban ratepayers for the same day Tho negotiations in Wellington, leading to the framing of the bill in its final form, were reported upon by tho council s representatives on lines already published. In moving that tho council should approvo the Act, the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, expressed thanks 'to all those who had assisted in arriving at the final arrange ment. "We could not have done any rooro if we had been in Wellington for months," ho said. "We have done our part, and it is now for the ratepayers to approve or reject the measure." Describing the Act as a really good compromise, considering the diverse interests concerned, Miss E. Molville said all her objections had been met by the provision to submit tho question to tho ratepayers. If they were in favour of tho setting up of a transport board, that arrangement should go a long way toward solving tho transport troubles of tho Auckland area, and establish a period of friendship and co-operation among the local authorities. Tho outer districts, by acceptance of a sharo of financial responsibility for transport, would strengthen tho position of the whole undertaking, and justify their claims for treatment more satisfactory to them. "The Absolute at Large." "I am absolutely opposed to the fundamental principles of the Act," declared Mr. A. J Stallworthy. "I cannot see that an ownership and control board with an absoluto monopoly will be any- solu-tion-to tho difficulties It will prove absolutely futile in an attempt to solve the problem as far as the legislative machinery of tho measure is concerned, although tho personnel of the board may rise superior to that difficulty. I also object to the provision, allowing the board to make a lovy for excess of expenditure. I can support the motion, only so far as tho question is to be referred to the ratepayers." Twitting Mr. Stallworthy on his choice of diction, Mr. O. Mcßrine commcndod to his notice a book called "The Absoluto at Large." Did Mr. Stallworthy think anyone would stand for absoluto anarchy in the streets by allowing anyone to ply for hire ? A monopoly of a public utility .was the only way to secure control. If Mr. Stallworthy was sincere, he would take tho public platform and advise tho xatepayors to oppose the Act. The method of selecting tho personnel of the board was not sufficiently democratic in tho view of Mr. W. H Murray. Ho thought tho first board should bo elcc- . tivo and not nominative, and that there should bo a universal franchise. "I accept the Act in the same way as a man accepts a black eye—becauso ho cannot help it," said Miss A. Hasten. Opponents of tho Motion. Tho motion was carried, Mr. Stall.worthy, Mr. Murray and Mr. G. Knight dissenting. The suggestion to hold tho poll on October 31 was opposed by Mr. Knight on tho ground that the date was premature, lie, for one, wanted to place some facts beforo ratepayers before polling clay. It was explained by Mr Baildon that tho poll had to be taken before November 19, and that it was desired not to conflict with the general election date. It was decided to hold tho poll on October 31, subject to that date being convenient to the local bodies for the taking of tho poll in their areas. An assurance was later given that, the date was suitable. Tho city solicitor, Mr. J. Stanton, sard a person who was a ratepayer in the city and in a suburban district would have a voto at both polls.

Tlianks were accorded to (he Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, tho Auckland nieml>»rs ciF Parliament, and the council's representatives for tlieir work in connection with the framing of tlie Act.