A Compulsory Purchase

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 1

A Compulsory Purchase

Council Must Buy G.O.C. Buses Judge Herdman’s Decision THAT the vehicles and plant of the Mount Eden MotorOmnibus Company used on the Avondale, New Lynn and Glen Eden runs (known as the G. O. C. buses), beingengaged in substantial competition with the corporation tramways, will have to be taken over by the Auckland City Council, was the pronouncement made by his honour, Mr. Justice Herdman, at the Supreme Court this morning.

'J'HE company, for whom Mr. V. R. Meredith and Mr. J. Armstead appeared, claimed the sum of £35,485 as the price of the property concerned. Mr. A. H. Johnstone and Mr. J. Stanton appeared for the Auckland City Council. Associated with his Honour were the Hon. E. W. Alison, assessor for the company, and Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, assessor for the council.

After a careful review of the evidence, said his Honour, the majority of the court was of the opinion that the bus company involved In the present proceedings was engaged in substantial competition with the tramways in a district laid down by the Act That view, added his Honour, was pot taken by Mr. Hutchinson. His Honour explained that the decision meant that the question of compensation would have to be gone into.

The court was adjourned for four weeks, when the question of compensation will be dealt with.