Trams in Manchester Street

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17155, 26 May 1921, Page 6

Trams in Manchester Street

Most people, we shoulcl say, will find it difficult to understand how Mr S. E. McCarthy has decided that the construction of a tramway line in Manchester street, north of the Clock Tower is "a paramount necessity,'.' for which "an overwhelming case" was made out. Hi's summary of the arguments for and against the line does not support this emphatic language at all. The three reasons wliich he gives in support of his'judgment are quite' weak. Two of them are based' on advantages—or, rather, the 'removal of existing disadvantages—wliich could be • secured otherwise than by building the proposed line, as we think was quite cleanly demonstrated when the Commissioner took' evidence., The third reason has more substance. It certainly would be desirable to Have'a second 'route connecting the northern add' southern areas of the city, but; many 1 things which are desirable must .be done ■ without.- ' The Special advantage Urged by the. Commissioner* on behalf-of, this alternative artery as that if an occuired •:at.. certain points,, tramway cofmexion. between' tWo'qpfcrts w'ould be'sus-' pended. What accident tliftt would suspend traffic long enough to makp the alternative route necessary we cannot imagine. When we turn to the Commissioner's treatment of the City "Council's objections we ilnd that he either haj not understood them or Has dismissed them without due consideration. He aocepts the Tramway Board's statement that it will not really'do a great deal of parking and shunting-in Man- ■ cheater street, and he brushes aside the serious interference with vehicular traffic in Manchester street, and makes' no reference to.the fact that much of I this- traffic will be forced into mora con* tral : streets. He allows conclusive ] 'weight to the, most frivolous of. all the Tramway Board's arguments—the argument, namely/ that the jreat advantage of making proper, use of the "Worcester: street line is as nothing oompared with the frightful hardship of walking two extra flocks whibh would be inflicted on a few of the from New Brighton.. "What he means by saying that if the Worcester street line were Used; New Brighton people would have to start at "an abnormally early hour" and : 'jajmlessly a: perambulate the* "Btreets"'of Christchurch on arrival, ia beyond Us. This very unsatisfactory judgment ends with - & sort of sermon upon the machinery of local government—a subject upon which Mr McCarthy may, for all we know, be an authority,' but one which ho was not commissioned to examine. We do not know-whether this 1 report will be conclusive, but if not, wo hope the City Council will not abandon its opposition to the Tramway Board's proposal: