TRANSPORT BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20262, 23 May 1929, Page 12

TRANSPORT BOARD.

MEMBER TO RETIRE* POSITION OF MR. MORTON. LOCAL BODIES* ATTITUDE. A decision to retain his seat oh the Transport Board until after May 31 has been mado by Mr. F. S. Morton, one of the suburban local body representatives on the board. According to the provisions of the Act a poll of ratepayers will therefore bo necessary to elect his successor, unless tho local bodies concerned decide to recall him, a proceduro which must bB enforced bofore May 31. A special meeting of these bodies —tho Onehunga Borough Council, the Mount Roskill,-One Tree Hill and Mount Wellington Road Boards and the Ellerslie and Panmure Town Boards—has been called for Monday next, when the attitude to be adopted should be definitely known. Mr. Morton stated yosterdav that it had been his intention to resign from tho board at tho end of tho present month,- but circumstances which had arisen as a result of the recent municipal elections had induced a number of members of the local bodies in the No. 3 area to ask him to reconsider his decision with a view to bringing about an cicclivo board. It was felt that, should ha delay his resignation until after May 31, it would be reasonable then to ask Iho Government to amend the Transport Act. Ho was now convinced that it would bo in the interests of all concerned for the Transport Board to be an elective board immediately. Mr. Morton added that his health had been affected and it was the deciding factor in his decision to retire from public life. The meeting of local bodies has been called by the Ono Tree Hill Road Board at the suggestion of tho Mount Roskill Road Board. The matter was briefly discussed at a meeting of the One Tree Hill Road Board last evening, when tho conference was agreed to. "It has been stated that the attitude of the local bodies is as represented by Mr. Morton in tho newspapers," said Mr. I. J. Goldstine. "The public should not be allowed to think our attitude is that represented by Mr. Morton, no matter what our views may be. I think his action in saying he would not resign until after May 31 was most improper." Mr. Morten's bounden duty was to have interviewed the six local bodies concerned and to consult them as to what he was to do. Mr. R. G. Clark said Mr. Morton had not placed his resignation in the hands of the board and until he actually did this the local bodies could do nothing. "I agree with Mr. Clark," said Mr. E. Slyfield, ' "but at the same time I think Mr. Morton has simply played with the people who have put him there." The discussion was closed by the chairman, who suggested the matter should be left until Monday night. THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES. POSITION OF MR. ALLUM. The tendered resignation of Mr. J. A. G. Allum as a member of the Auckland Transport Board will be considered at a special meoting of the Auckland City Council next Tuesday evening. The matter came before the last meeting of the council on May 9, but action was deferred. A notice of motion by Mr. T. Bloodvrorth will also be considered at the special meeting. The motion, if carried, would have the effect of withdrawing all six of tho council's present nominees on the board, thus requiring the council to elect representatives afresh. It is pointed out that these need not exclude all or any of the present nominees, who are Messrs. Allum, G. Baiklon. A. J. Entrican, E. J. Phelan, G. Ashley and M. J. Coyle.