TRAM TANGLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 6

TRAM TANGLE

And A Commissioner From Adelaide

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) Was it just coincidence which prompted Gordon Coates to select G. T. Goodman, traffic manager of the Adelaide Municipal Tramways Trust, as one of the three commissioners to inquire into Auckland's transport problems? TTHB Prime Minister can hardly have been Ignorant — when he approached Goodman — of the association between this expert and the present manager of -the Auckland tramways, A. E. Ford. "N.Z. Truth. is reliably informed that Ford served under — and was trained by — Goodman for thirteen years m the Adelaide Tramways Trust. It was this expert training, presumably, which procured for Ford his present position m Auckland. And now the Prime Minister has seen fit to appoint, as one of the commissioners, an expert who is expected to sit m judgment on the work of his protege. It has even been stated that it was largely on Goodman's recommendation that Ford obtained his appointment with the Auckland City Council. Without desiring m the least to cast any reflection of Goodman, "Truth" holds the opinion that his selection is an indiscretion which must react unfavorably on the minds of Aucklanders, who have been buoyed up with the official announcement that the commission's personnel would consist of men entirely disinterested, but wholly competent to undertake the important work of straightening out the transport tangle. From the outset the public theory is that Goodman will come to his task with a prejudicial leaning, even sympathy, towards the men he trained m Adelaide. The plural is used advisedly, since Ford is not the only executive officer m the Tramway Department who gained his expert knowledge under Goodman. After Ford's appointment, Morgan and Maddagin were brought from the Adelaide Tramways Trust to nil the respective positions of traffic superintendent and roster clerk. Both these officers served as long under Goodman as did Ford, "Truth" has been given to understand on the best authority. They came to Auckland, all three, with the Adelaide tramway system firmly entrenched m their minds. There is every justification, therefore, for the assumption that Auckland's present tramway system is based extensively on the only transport system of which these three Australian experts had any knowledge. There is, indeed, ample evidence to support this. Maddagin introduced the Adelaide roster system m Auckland and his colleague, Morgan, very naturally based his changes m the traffic operations on his previous experience m Australia. Even the uniforms of employees, application forms and report forms jare identical with those used m I Adelaide. FACING THE ISSUE It is from this same system that Gordon Coates has chosen Goodman as one of his commissioners and — let it be said — the only one of the three with any practical experience of the working details of tram and bus transport. The Prime Minister knows that the Auckland tramways are running at a loss of approximately £40,000 per year, but the public has not been told that for the financial year 1926-27 the Adelaide Municipal Tramways Trust lost £60,000! If the tramways system that has had the honor conferred upon it of providing a commissioner to inquire into Auckland's tramway muddle, cannot "make a better showing than this, then Aucklanders might almost feel pleased with the unsatisfactory state of affairs m their own city. There is always this to look forward to — Auckland may yet attain the distinction of allowing Ford to visit Adelaide to sit on a commission of inquiry Into the working of the Adelaide tramways. The system of which Goodman, Ford, Morgan and Maddagin are products, is administered by a board and is m no way under the control of the Adelaide municipal corporation. - The loss of £ 60,000 during the last financial year m the running of the trams was explained as being mainly due to motor omnibus competition. It certainly appears as though Goodman's particular system is m dire need of his expert services. Charity, when all is said and done, begins at home. In attributing to Goodman a very natural partiality for the men he trained m a system which has, no doubt, also given him valuable practical experience, "Truth" does not wish it to be inferred that he would be consciously biased. Let us face the issue squarely, though. Goodman is human enough to be influenced by his faith m himself, his proteges and his system. ' Must the Auckland public accept his appointment with philosophical calm?