THE TRANSPORT BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20105, 16 November 1928, Page 12

THE TRANSPORT BOARD.

There is sound authority for the dictum that no man can serve two masters. That piece of wisdom has been observed by the City Council in the election of its representatives on the new Transport Board, for it has not included any of the four councillors who are also members of the Auckland Tower Board. Since the question was raised before nominations were invited, it may be presumed that the result was due, not to coincidence, but to deliberate intention. There are substantial reasons for the view that membership of the Power Board should be regarded as a disqualification of a candidate for election to the Transport Board. By reason of its operation of the tramways, the new body will be the largest customer of the Power Board, and, although the contract made by the City Council for the supply of electricity will presumably lie continued, experience has proved that the terms and conditions it contains are not precise enough to make its operation automatic. After prolonged negotiation, the council and the board have recently reached a basis of agreement, but neither presumes that it has removed the possibility of disputes recurring. The question of the price to be paid for tramway power will be, relative to its functions, more important than it has been to the City Council, and anyone who sat on both boards would be placed in an invidious position. There is legal provision to prevent such a quandary arising in connection with, for instance, the purchase of petrol for the board s buses, and the same principle applies with equal force to the relations between the two boards. The City Council has taken that view of the matter; it deserves the attention of the other local authorities in _ the selection of their representatives.