TRAMWAY BOARD ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 4

TRAMWAY BOARD ELECTION.

CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION'S CANDIDATES.

CONTESTANTS' POLICIES OUTLINED.

The Christchurch Cities' Associa . Hons candidates for the election of members of the Tramway Board on Thursday next are Messrs E H Andrews, G. T. Booth, Wm. Hayward' H, Pearce, ami W. first four mentioned g iWe an ouUine of their opinions on tramway management and future policy to a fairly well attended meeting in the Chamber of Commerce Hall last n.ght, Mr A. S. Taylor presiding. The Association's policy is as fol . lows : JltfitiSTsak bc L , if *„r b ', ,di co>u ond .landing aarec, „l!„ 0 Td"ft borne by the users without having recourse to rates. b (2, The retention of the present system of providing excursion tri Ps t o the seaside, during the school holidays Ht excursion rates. '

(3) The setting aside of adequate funds to cover depreciation and sinking fund, and to continue to make tho necessary provision by conserving reserve funds, in order to meet renewal and other charges inseparable from the exigencies of an ageing system. (4) The maintenance of a safe, comfortable and speedy service attended by a courteous and efficient staff. (5) A careful investigation of changing transport conditions, co-operation with local authorities, and a readiness to meet new conditions with such alterations as are found desirable. Tho chairman said that as trams were a universal means of transport, everyono wns interested in them. Christchurch was not alone in the many difficulties that had to be faced. The Association was putting forward the present sitting members who had had considerable experience. Labour Paper Attacked. Mr \V. Hayward. present chairman of the Tramway Board, said that only a few moments ago li< paper, "The Elector," handed to him. It was so full of inaccuracies as to be hardly worth comment. It was published by the Labour Partv which was so interested in Christchurch matters as to have the paper printod in Wellington. Tho tramways in Christchurch were a far bigger venture than was generally supposed bv the man in tho street, said Mr Hayward. In 1929 tho tramways carried 24.800,1jLr0 passengers. Tt cost Is 6d to run a tramcnr a mile in Christchurch. A comparison of operating costs between Christchurch and other centres showed that Christchurch was in a very favourable position. The figures were as follows: —

Every tramway venture in New Zealand and Australia tried reduced fares, said Mr Hayward, and it was found impracticable. Christchurc.h tried penny sections for 32 weeks, —quite a fair trial -—and the decrease in revenuo was £1940, a total of 68,000 fewer passengers being carried. The population did not warrant ' nueh a reduction. No city in the world of tho size of Christchurch had such a tramway problem as the opposition of bicycles and cars. A Balance Anticipated. In Melbourne last year there was a tramway deficiency of £169,000. Next year Christchurch hoped to come out with the budget balanced. Thero were now many rates, and no one wished to see the striking of a tramway rate. Probably tho outlying districts would not miiid a rate at all, as their proportions would be so small. If a rate was struck Christchurch would pay 66 per cent. It would bo a very bad day for Christchurch when a rate was struck to carry the trams. (Applause.) It was believed that the solution of present-day tram difficulties lay in trolley buses, said Hr Hayward. The cost of renewing lines was three times that of putting down the original tracks. All these things should be thought of before money was spent. Mr Hayward concluded by urging the meeting to vote for the Association's candidates. Self-Supporting Services.

Mr E. H. Andrews said that the Labour paper, dealing with the Christchurch election, and published in Wellington, was full of innuendo and cunningly misapplied fact. It advocated reduced fares and condemned present tramway management in Christchurch. If the Labour Party's programme waa carried out there would have to be a rate. Tho Citizens' Association stood for self-supporting trams, and no raid upon the pockets of the people. Co-operation with other local bodies wis absolutely necessary, said Mr Andrews. It would obviate overlapping. Transport conditions had changed tremendously. The time was fast coming when it would be too expensive to continue laying down lines in the outer districts. Petrol-buses had been tried and now the Board had decided to test the trolley buses. The trolley buses were luxuriously upholstered, they had a wide road range, and their maximum speed was 30 miles an hour. They would get over the bugbear of putting down new rails. Trolley buses could cope with huge streams of traffic in England, and surely they could be used successfully in Christchurch. They were from 2d to 3Jd cheaper per mile than trams. Seven buses, with overhead equipment, would cost £22,500, and as the tram tracks on the outskirts were worn out they would ■ adually be replaced by the trolley buses. Perhaps, in time to come, there would be other means of power such as Diesel engines. North Beach Line. He would not say that all the losses on the North Beach line would be wiped out but there would be £I6OO a year off tho losses. It would cost £43,000 to ] relay the North Beach line. The Board was not the semi-moribund body that it was stated to be by some people. The members were business men whose endeavour was to run tho trams as economically and efficiently as possible. Mr H. Pearce traced the early history of the tramways and dealt with the condition of the Board. It was not the duty of the Board to carry on lines that were not paying, he said. Mr G. T. Booth said that Christchurch could hold its own with any other tram service in comfort, cleanliness, and the courtesy and efficiency of motormen and conductors. (Applause.) First of all Christchurch had horse trams, then steam trams, and then electric trams. Now trolley buses were being installed and, in his opinion, even they were by no means the last word in transport as there was always advance in a matter of that kind. Questions Answered. Replying to a question, Mr Hayward said that the people were entitled to be

carried to the seaside at as cheap a rata as possible. Thoso lines were not a dead loss by any means. Mr Hayward said that promises as to reductions of fares on any particular lines were quite impossible. A business man could not forecast his prices for any time ahead. The present Board would endeavour to carry out every economy before raising the fares. The secretary of tho Association, Mr S. F. Marshall, said that the voting conditions were the same as in the City Council elections. "What about the maintenance of the roads used by the trolley buses?" asked someone. In reply, Mr Hayward said that the Tramway Board looked after 75 per cent, of the roads. Where did everyone drive? he asked. The answer was: On the tramlines. As to the trolley buses the load was spread on three axles and six wheels, thus the wear and tear on the roads would be considerably less than from petrol buses. Votes of thanks were accorded to the speakers.

Citizens' Association candidates for the rmmway Hoard ejection will ad* dress electors in the Football Club rooms, Lawson street, Sydenham, tonight at 8 o'clock.

Passengers Operating per Tuarlc costs, car mile, mileage Wellington . 18.lid 10.99 30J Auckland . 17.50d 10.16 83 Napier • Dunedin . 13.57d 8.39 2 J . 13.2fld 11.BO IB Wanfcanui . 13.25d 4.DO 14* Christchurch 12.26d 7.32 53i