MARTON INDIGNANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 13

MARTON INDIGNANT.

TROUBLE OVER BUS FARES. AN ORDER-IN-COUNCIL. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] MAKTON, Tuesday. The Marlon Borough Council lias from time to time protested against the Government's policy of legislation by Order-in-C'ouncil, but it is many years since such vigorous profest bus been ■pntered as WQ3 (iorio at Inst evenings meeting. It "was the Ordev-in-Council which brought Kangitikei County and the towns therein into the I'almerston North omnibus district that caused the storm. " It is a piece of impertinence," said one member. " It interferes with the civil rights of the people," said another. The Mayor remarked that it vos the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard of in all his local body experience. The matter was brought up by Mr. J. A. Bush, who said that the I'almerston North inspector had threatened to prosecute local owners who rlid not put tip their fares from Marton Junction to the town to 2s Id. The only other alternalive was to re* luce the seating capacity of tll/i lillfifjfl (O Kit

The Motor-Omnibus Act v. .is perused, and it was found that various districts were set out, with no mention of Hangitikei County or Marlon Borough. I lie bono of contention was that "'1 lie Government may, by Order-in-Council, from time t'o time add to areas set out in the Act."

The Mayor: We have apparently been included without consultation by Order-in-Council. We have not been advised that we were included. Mr. Bush: The matter is a serious one, as the buses are a link between the station and the town. The Government will carry railwaymcn to l'almerston North to do their shopping for ]s 6d on the railways, and people who desire to patronise Marlon are compelled to pay a bus fare of "s Id front tlio junction. Che following resolutions were carried unanimously:—(l) That tho council enters the strongest possible protest against, any interference by tho l'almerston North Borough Council's traffic inspector regarding the running of motor-omnibuses bctweeu Marton railway station and the town, and the faro chargeable therefor: (2) that the matter be urgently taken up ■with the Minister of Public Works; (3) that (he Finance Committee of tho council bo authorised at its discretion to defend in I lie Courts any action that may be brought against local omnibus proprietors; (4) that (ho Mayor be authorised to represent this matter to Iho Mayor of l'almerston North; (5) that a cony of the resolution bo forwarded to the Rangitikei County Council asking for co-opera-tion."