MR F. WAYMOUTHS OPINIONS

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11487, 21 January 1903, Page 8

MR F. WAYMOUTHS OPINIONS

iMr F. Waymouth, who is a candidate for the Riccarton, Spreydon, and Halswell subdistrict seat on the Tramways Board, and who for many years was on the St. Albans Borough Council, being for three yea-re Mayor, has had considerable experience of the* working of tramway concessions, and in negotiating with tramway companies in connection with such concessions.

He thinks that municipal, or Tramway Board, control is the only satisfactory system. Owing to the approaching expiration of the concessions to the companies the present system has been allowed to "run dry, and for the last few years there is no doubt the trains have been a source of great discomfort to those who used them and Ims led to this city being probably the most backward of any in the colonies as regards tramways. As to the construction of the new system. Mr Waymouth considers that the proper course to adopt would be for the Board to engage thoroughly up-to-date expert engineering assistance to formulate a scheme for submission to the ratepayers, and then the lines, by contract, under the supervision of the Boards expert, the Board to take over the running powers by sections as they are completed.

He is totally opposed to allowing any contractors to have running powers over the lines for however short a period.' He is. of opinion that Christchurch and district is eminently suited for the installation of a complete electrical tramway system, which can be economically constructed, and, owing to the straight and level nature of our streets and roads,- snah a system can be economically worked. A foreign company, undertaking the construction and running of trams in this district would base their calculations on the average of other systems where the conditions are not so favourable, with the result that they would reap large profits here to equalise the lesser profits derived from systems in cities with less favourable conditions. Regarding the statement made tjy one of the speakers in the Square on. Saturday night, to the effect that there was a possibility that the roll for the Tramway Board election was illegal, having been closed before the fourteenth day prior to ■the election, it is stated that the rolls were closed in accordance with regulation*), under the Christchurcb District Tram-ways Act, which appeared in the "Gazette." So that there can be no question as to the legality of the roll.