FLAT RATE DEFEATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20387, 16 October 1929, Page 14

FLAT RATE DEFEATED.

TRANSPORT BOARD EDICT

•'SCHEME OF SPECULATORS."

'EXCITEMENT AT MEETING,

REJECTION OF AMENDMENTS

A stormy scene occurred at a meeting rf the Auckland Transport Board yesterday, when, at the instanco of tho chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, tho muchdi-. cussed flatrate tram faro proposal was jettisoned by six votes to three . High words were oxchangcd between partisans ami opponents of tho proposed measure. Mr. Allum's motion: "That no further Action in the matter of tho flat rate be taken," took a number of members by .stiiprise, and an attempt was made to refer the question back to the committee ■which has been considering it. For imlno'linte discussion tho board had beforo it. the resolution passed at the recent conierence of local bodies, affirming the principle of the flat rate and recommendliK' that application should be mado for 1111° Order-iu-Council authorising the change and a poll of the ratepayers if necessary. 'T am very disappointed with the way fn which this matter has been handled,' Mr. Allum said. "We asked tho local bodies for their opinions on tho flat rate, lint they saw fit to call a conference to which neither the board's members uor its officers wore invited.

A Question of Benefit.

"I can see no value arising out of Vfu-h a conference. Tho flat rate has ioihisrd considerable alarm and public apprehension. There seems to bo an idea that people living in tho outer suburbs will benefit, and so they will to a cortain extent, but what is overlooked is that 50 per cent, of the one-section riders travel over other sections than the first from the city and that is going to bring considerable hardship to those people. : ' The board does not need the additional £82,000 in revenue which it is said the introduction of tho flat rato can make. Wo require a small amount more rovenuo to make the ledger balance, but not a great ♦leal, and we cannot afford to antagonise the travelling public to such an extent that wo might fail to make as much revenue as we are at present. 5 "I havo reluctantly como to the conclusion that all this propaganda for tho flat Kite is nothing more than a move on the 'pnrt of land speculators to attempt to "use this board to assist them in their speculations. I can respect propaganda when it is fair, but this propaganda, which .has been developed only with tho idea of enhancing, tho valuo of unused tho Mihurbs, will not influence mo in the slightest degree. If the eyes of the public nro not opened to this I shall be very liiuch surprised."

An Amendment Moved.

' Sir. L. E. Rhodes protested that' the chairman's motion was premature. "You should give us a chance to reach our conclusion instead of springing it on us like this," he said. .As an amendment, he moved that the question of the flat rate should bo referred back to the committee .dealing with it. . ' "I second the amendment, said Mr. h. H. Potter, "and in doing so I would like to say that the chairman's remarks are quite uncalled for. It will bo principally Die section-owners who will benefit by the ; fiat rate and not tho land-dealers. I maintain that tho flat rate will give us more revenue and will give • the peoplo greater opportunities for riding over tho whole tramway system. ' Mr. A. J. Entrican said that tho first--7 section travellers in the city would bear athe brunt of tho burden if the flat rate ■ were introduced. "Nothing will convince a vou that you are not correct until there ~js a poll of tho ratepayers," ho declared 'amid a murmur of approval. '"lt is wrong for tho board to ignore the request of tho local body conference," said Mr. F. S. Morton, " and seeing that -we are divided on this all-important subject I think it would bo only right for ns to submit the question to a poll of the ratepayers throughout tho transport area. It is useless to go on talking about it. Our financial position is getting worseMr. E. J. Phelan: Do not bo pessimistic. : Mr. Morton: I stated last January that • the policy adopted by the board would end in disaster. A Remark Withdrawn. Mr. M. J. Coyle: You have been pre-{ dieting disaster ever since you camo here. ; Wo gut a great deal of advice from Mr. "Morton, but we should remember that it : :<*as ho who advised Onehunga to pull "Up the tram lines. lie camo here with .'Jhe deliberate idea of wrecking this institution. -v J[r. Morton: Mr. Chairman, I demand -that Mr. Coyle withdraw his statement. '"Mr. Coyle: If the chairman wishes I .-".'frill withdraw it, but I say that every " move that has been made to displaco tho "six members of the City Council from this board has had their sympathy and -■' support. Mr. Rhodes: Who do you mean by that ? '■, Mr. Coyle: Mr. Morton and Mr. r 'Pot.ter. ' Mr. Potter (heatedly): It is absolutely false and almost a lie. •'* ' Tho Chairman: Mr. Coyle; I must ask you to withdraw. Mr. Coylo: At your request I will do L "bo but I repeat that they have done roth-"-'ing but-try to scotch tho wheel of pro- '• press in connection with this undertakes- . --' Mr. Morion: Balderdast*,yf.'-' "Garbled Statements." - Mr. Phelan: I believe that they aro 'prompted by the very best of intentions and that after a little more experience in transport matters they will see eye to eye with us. Mr. G. Baildon: It puzzles mo how these gentlemen could mako the statements they have made to-day then ask tho local body conference to give an intelligent vote. Garbled statements which have been circulated by two members of the board are not supported by fact or ' figure— Mr. Morton: I am one of those gentlemen and I rise to a point of order. Tho Chairman: I have not heard your name mentioned.

Mr. Baildon: I am prepared to name them, 'l'hey are Messrs. Potter and Morton, and I am that the public takes their figures seriously. Mr. Potter: I take strong exception to the remark that I have been making wrong statements. Mr. Morton: They have been supplied l>y the management of this board. Following Expert Advice.

Mr. Allum said that tho sooner the board as a whole saw fit to follow the advice of its expert officers the sooner would its affairs run more smoothly. "iThines which were said about tho manager at that local body conference were highly despicable and should not bo tolerated, and I am going to suggest that if things like that aro said they should bo said in his presence where ho can hit back. Mr. Ford is an expert and thero are too many self-styled experts outside tho hoard who aro misleading the public. "I am_ definitely opposed to the fat rate faro in tho interests of the people," Mr. Allum added. "In tho interests of ■the undertaking ifc would bo fin oxcellent thing, provided the people travelled in . sufficient numbers. But it is not our policy to profit out of tho undertaking • but merely to make both ends meet and give the public the best service possible." Mr. Rhodes' amendment was defeated Mr. Potter, Mr. Morton and the mover mono voting for it. Mr. Morton thereiipon moved a further amendment in- -. strncting the officers of tho board to take *' a poll throughout tho transport area. It SOCOndcd by Mr ' PoUor an< * a lso :•?£ Tho chairman's motion that no further -•■ action should bo taken van then carried. Eaildcn, Entrican. G. G„ Ashlev. Wood, Coylo and PbeJan votincr for'it r - and Messrs. Potter, Morton and "Rhode-? Against. " "