THE TRAMWAYS BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11480, 13 January 1903, Page 5

THE TRAMWAYS BOARD.

. ♦ ox'iXIOXB OF CANDIDATES. Several of the candidates for the Tramways Board wore seen yesterday by a Iβptjeeeuiauve of "The Press" as to thai* opinions on the following qutetioo*:—(H Were they in favour of municipal caa.trol of the tramways; (2) whether they would be prepared to consider the offer* made from firms and syndicates to construct and run the lines lor a certain number of years, with the i:r. .M-rstaodiag w*t t-hey ehould then revert u> '.as Council on favourable terms; (3) wliuior it would not be more convenient and profitable to take over the traui.% say. ten. or fifteen yeaxs hence, when they were a going concern, and it was seen whether they would pay or sot, instead of havi&g u> rait** the money at once and ex.p«xintent ourselves. MR H. F. WIORAM. The Mayor, in reply, said tlat the letter which he had published covered the ground lie thought; and he had already pledged himself in favour of municipal control. The Board, on the other eubjecte mentioned, must use its intelligence, but he was not in favour of any active steps being taken without submitting the matter to the ratepayers, and obtaining an expression oi opinion from them. MR W. REECE. Mr W. Reeve said that he was under thd impression that somft opportunity would be afforded to the candiuaies for soata on the I'rainway Board of stating their views generally with regard to the probab*« inattons at issue. It the eorre-spoiulence in the newspapers were any guidi , , the vital questions, in the opinion of the electors, were those ot" ov.iHiisiup and control. ~li« hud much pleasure in slating his views with regard to them. He had for eoniti years beeu interested in tbes*: questions, and Jiad both by reading and personal investigation in other parts of the world, formed hie conclusion*. H« had followed tlie growing desire of the people to bent'tit by profile from public services, and cordially endorsed municipal home rule, and Ihj clearly understood the spirit which animated the members of the Conference which promoted the Act to which the Tramways Board owes its existence, and consequently if the electors decide in favour of tlw scheme to be placed, before them, he ' pledged himself, if elected, to vote lor full and complete control by tlie Board, and would oppose any deviation therefrom unless speciaiiy sanctioned by the citizens. Speaking generally on the questions asked, he said he was' decidedly in favour of municipal control. His opinion was that the Board should .get out a proposal as to ith« construction of tlie tramway*, and call for tenders for the work from variou* firms, ample time being giveu to leading firms to tender. The Board should take the advice of its professional adviser an to material, and frame proposals for construction, submitting them to tlie ratepayers for approval. If they were iv iavour of them, then they should call for tenders. He thought the advertisements issued to the various firme to tender were rather in the direction of seeking to obtain information than with the object of getting tenders. If the people were willing to take the responsibility of taking over the .trams when they are in going order, as suggested by the third question, the members of the Board, as their irepretentative*, would have to cany but their wishes. MR T. OAPES. Mr Thos. Gapes «aid, as regarded municipal control of the tramway*, he was not decided upon the queition. Hi* duty 1 wm first to ascertain whether municipal control would be cheaper and more effective than by a company. Whichever system was proved to be the beet in the interests of the ratepayers he would support. Com* pany control, wita a re-purchaaing otaiow by the city at the end of, say, vevsa yeaxs, might be a good thing. Bat it was s< matter which, required consideration. He would be in favour at considering tis offers which might have been seat in. Generally, the thought the ratepayer*, baring elected the Board, would have to trw* them to do the beet according to the information before them. »fR JAJrHESON. Mr Jamieson was strongly in favour of tlie muaicipalisation of the trams, jbA affording the people the greatest "amount of control over the tramway service. He thought that '-he raoet efficient service (would be obtained by direct control of the ratepayers themselves. MjK A w BEAVEN. Mr A. W. B "yen erpreesed the opinion th*t the tramways should be municipally controlled. Regarding the construction of the proposed elei-trical tramways, h* said that undoubtedly it should be let by tender to firme of a high reputation.. The Board would, literally, construct the tramways. 043 their construction would be under the supervision of the best expert obtainable. He considered that the Board ehould adopt the Wellington rather than the Dunedin style of conducting matters, end ehould employ their own expert to prepare plans and estimates. Tie wae in favour of those parts which could be as cheaply and as well manufactured in the colony "being obtained in the colony, in preference to tos imported article. MR M. GRAY. Mr C. M. Gray said that first of all th* Board should engage a competent electrical tramway engineer and instruct ham to prepare a scheme and an estimate of it* cost. Then this scheme should be submitted to the ratepayers for their approval or otherwise. The Board should control and manage the tramways. Aβ to finance, he did sot think for a moment th*t there wotdd be any occasion for th* Board to exercise ite rating powers, for oooe ti» tramways were started they would p*y. In addition to the Board provjdjngfor interest and sinking fund, it ehould also provide for a depreciation or renewal fund. Whei these services were provided for,, sad » surplus was in hand the Board should re* duoe fares, so that the users of the tram* should get the benefit. As far as be bad been able to ascertain there was no pro* vision in the Act for the distribution, amongst the local bodies, of any surplus, and in hie opinion those' who use the trams ehould have concessions made when there was a surplus. In the event of the acheme drawn up by the engineer employed by the Board being adopted, the Board should be in a position to let oontracts, and be advocated calling for ton* ders for tbe .work, whkh should be carried out .under the supervision of tbe Board's engineer. He did not believe in handing over the construction or coat*** of tlie tramways to a private company or syndicate. MR G. SIMPSON. Mr George Simpson «ud be wae is favour of municipal control for all undertakings, such %s tramways, electrio ponrff scheme, lighting and water supply. At the same time he would like to say that he was decidedly in favour of tbe acceptance of Mr Hansen s offer. Aβ a City Councillor h« advocated it, as far as opportunity offered. He was still of opinion that tie large majority of the ratepayers were »J*a in favour of it. Unless, st clear and <dei cided policy, which would meet with tne J approval of the ratepayers, was laid; down by the Board, he thought the ratepayers would the proposal to borrow, pro* bably, say, £300,000*, to spend in *n undertaking where there woe a probability of ite becoming obsolete in 10 or 15 y«u*sHad a poll been taken before Mr Hansen withdrew his offer, he felt confident the voice of the ratepayers would have given authority to accept it. There was no doubt a great deal to be said on botn sides, but we were living in a marvellously progressive age. What we undertook today and expend large sums of money upon, might be far behind tbe times in a few years. M» B. PITCAITHLY. Mr B. Pitcaitkljr said b» Mpnorttd tft*

trwnwayß toeing municipally controlled, and believed that the ratepayers would vote the money for an improved tramway system. He was in favour of all the work that could be done in the colony being done in it, and in any contract made he thought this should be specified. As to the construction of the lines, Lβ considered it ■would Lave to be let, and pointed out that come company or syndicate would come forward and offer to complete the system at a certain rate per mile, and within a certain period. He did not advocate the Board undertaking the construction of the lines, but a competent man should be employed to supervise the works when contracts were let. He was quite satisfied that the Board could manage the tramways, provided there was a competent man a* manager, -who ought to be well paid. MR T. H. DAYHY. Mr T. 11. Davey, M.H.R., sUUxI that in response to a. very numerously sigivd request lie had received last Friday, to whicn he had promised to give hi.s reply last evening, lie hud consented lo allow t>j by n.'jiuiim.U'd for a scut on tho H<mul. Jb'rom the livst, ho had strongly urg< d that the tramways should be run by the people'.s repivt-entiilives, for the jxrople, and that no ci'inpLijiy should bt- given the privilt-go vi niiikuig a prolit. out of Ht: wiu< opposed to any cotnpanv tiie hi«.s, and was in favour of municipal constriction, as well as munidjial controiIf a good strong Board were appointed there should be in) difficulty aboul the who.c mi'/stion, mid coiisiik-ring the nun:l>vrs who li.nl c:,:n- forward tiiM*' ought Co be xm doubt with rig-ird to thu liuard's strength--Mr i; t ~rgf> p l( y!i:ig aii.l Mr W. K. bi.th I'itv I'nuwjillors, are candi-i!.i!:-x fin- the- Tramways Hoard. 1:.- .->; ;it ■•nif ill tliat tli* , Hon. C. will In- ;i ciuuli.l.ite for tiie Tramways liojj'd is jn.icL'iii.itr.