CITY TERMINAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22833, 14 September 1937, Page 11

CITY TERMINAL

NEW TRANSPORT CENTRE THE OFFICIAL OPENING NOTABLE PUBLIC AMENITY FIRST IN THE DOMINION Auckland's Municipal Transport Station, the first of its kind in New Zealand, was officially opened yester-. day, when the Mayoress, Lady Davis, cut the blue and white ribbon stretched across the main entrance to the building. The official opening took place at 12.30 p.m. to enable citizens to be present and there was a large attendance of the public when the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, declared the new terminal open for business. Several speakers took part in the ceremony, which was attended by representatives of city and suburban local . bodies and of the transport interests. A pair of silver scissors, bearing the crest of the City Council and the initials of the Mayor were presented to Sir Ernest by the chairman of the Legal and By-Laws Committe of the council, Sir. W. T. Anderton, M.P., on behalf of the council. The Mayor handed these scissors to Lady Davis at the conclusion of the opening speeches and asked her to cut the ribbon. Tribute to the Mayor Satisfaction at the completion and opening of the now station was expressed by Mr. Anderton. He said the city owed much to Sir Ernest Davis in securing this land for Auckland and the part he had taken gathering the information that made it possible to submit a real scheme to the council. Few realised the great service Sir Ernest had rendered to the city in the realisation of this great undertaking.

Mr. Anderton referred to the bearing the station would have on the traffic problems of the city and said that in the negotiations that led to the present position the deputy-mayor, the Hon. B. Martin, M.L.C., and Sir George Richardson, had devoted many hours with him in considering details. In thanking all those who had a part in the construction of the station Mr. Anderton said that the terminal would stand as a monument to co-operative effort.

Mr. F. W. Schramm, M.P. for Auckland East, said that the City Council had achieved a notable success in acquiring the site and providing this building.

A Long-felt Need

Mr. N. B. Spencer, chairman of the Auckland Omnibus Proprietors' Association. after remarking that the opening of the station marked a very important step in the history of" passenger transport in the city, Eaid that the transport operators had long feltthe need of a central terminal, but with only year to year licences nothing in this way could be done. However, now that the transport business had settled down and was taking its rightful place in the life of the community the building and financing of the station had been made possible. The Mayor said that the building with its facilities and amenities was a credit to the city and to all who were associated with its planning and erection. v He was sure tnat the ratepayers would be gratified to learn that the basis on which the station was financed provided for its being a self-supporting unit and not a charge on the city's resources. He then declared the station officially open for business and asked the Mayoress, Lady Davis, to cut tho ribbon.

I BUS OWNERS' COMPLAINT THE LAY-OUT AND THE COST REPLY.BY THE MAYOR A discordant not© was introduced at the opening of the Municipal Transport Terminal yesterday by Mr. N. B. Spencer, chairman, of the Auckland Omnibus Proprietors' Association, who spoke on behalf of the transport operators using the station. While admitting: that the comfort and convenience of the public had been studied he complained that from the operators' point of view the plan and layout of the station had been condemned by every transport operator in Auckland. "In the matter of the operation of vehicles, unfortunately the operators cannot agree that the station fulfils all that it might," said Mr. Spencer. "We feel that the best use has riot been made of this big area and that the amount of platform space is inadequate. We feel that we should have platforms similar to those in up-to-date stations where the buses run right through. However, vse will try to carry on and'do our best/''

Mr. Spencer said that if the City Council had taken more notice of the views of the operators .the result would have been a much more efficient terminal which would have cost the operators a great deal less. The station was not being paid for by the people of Auckland, but by the transport operators, who were being called on. to pay the whole of the operating cost and to repay the whole of tho capital expenditure. The terminal was costing the operators about £7O a week, including an annual payment of £550 toward the capital cost of the building. It should be stressed that every penny of expense was being paid by'the operators.

Tho Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, who followed, said lie thought the remarks of Mr. Spencer were a little inopportune. The council had given all the points raised much consideration and he thought that throughout the negotiations the proprietors' organisation had met the council's representatives at least 14 times. "I think that our friend is a little bilious to-day," added Sir Ernest. "If he takes a couple of liver pills ho may feel a little better tomorrow."

FIRST DATS TRAFFIC SYSTEM WORKS SMOOTHLY The change over of suburban bus services from street stands in various parts of the Queen Street area to the new Municipal Transport area was made yesterday without any hitch, and throughout tho clay buses arrived at and were despatched from the new central platform without any confusion. Suburban residents coming'to business in the city bv bus enjoyed the noveltv of being set down at this well arranged depot, although it may be some days before they become accustomed to making their way to the new point of departure in the evenings. So far some of the service car companies using large vehicles have not transferred to the new station, but expect to make the transfer shortly. One effect of the opening of the new bus station was the comparative clearance of the streets of heavy traffic in areas formerly devoted to suburban bus loading. Commerce Street, between Fort and Customs Streets, lower Queen Street and the Sturdee Street area, to the west of Queen Street, were relieved of much of-their"customary congestion.