KARORI TRAMWAY PROPOSALS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 570, 27 July 1909, Page 2

KARORI TRAMWAY PROPOSALS.

(To mi EDiTon,) ARGUMENTS FOR THE TRAMWAY.' Sir,—ln your issue of tho 24th, 1 notice three letters on thoabovo subject, signed respectively" by ' "Reason," "Fair Play," and "Karori." Now, I think one signature would have been sufficient, for I think thoro was but ono dictator who can write English fairly well, but speaks it mighty badly. However, ho is entitled to his opinions all tho snmo, but I would suggest that in his next he sign his letter "Foul Play." Now, sir, under tho signature of Reason thcro aro some most'untrue figures. Tho writer must have dreamt of tho early days of Karori. Ho says, there aro only 250 ratepayers in Karori, whereas there are 800 on the ratepayers' roll; It would pay him to visit tho council offices and correct his figures boforo ho writes again. Then, again, bo says tho suggested faro from tho Government' Station to. tho recreation grounds is to bo 6d. On inquiry, I loam, that tho council havo never- yot discussed this matter, and as tho present faro to the cemetery is 3d., it seems unlikely that the fare for tho rest of the route will bo more than 2d. Ho follows with more figures which aro just as misleading. Now, sir, above the signature of "Fair Play" aro a few lines offered by the opposers of scheme in excuse for their BcilisbnosN. It is ,well known that tho , most energetic opppsers to the present extension scheme worked almost day and night in support of tho schemo which, took the tram to the cemetery. Some of them, indeed, wero known to have canvassed ratepayers at 10 p.m*' Now those "Feir Play" men were ready with many primises io support tho extension to MakaraHiH if a, proposal came forward < after two years, but now that tboy have got all they want, they turn "dog," which. lea.'! 'Tod Play." . ' Again, there re;just as muoh to be said in support of th/i "present ; scheme as was claimed for: tho tram to the cemetery. No ono claimed then that tho trams would pay running '.expenses for a few years, but they have more than done this from the first. This is all wo could expect on the extension for .the first fow years.. ■.■■■. When those in support of the tram to tho cemetery brought forward their ' proposal, they tacked on to their schemo a 'bus service to the' foot of Makara Hill. Now, sir, this service, though running at a loss of between£soo and £600 a year, cannot be taken off until replaced by some other, service, and no other service can,bo satisfactory where, there is involved a changing on the part of tho passengers fronV one service to another. Our present .bnses aro practically worn. out; they, cannot last much 'longer, and, consequently, unless some other soryico is instituted, further expense mil' bo necessary.' I was present at the statutory meeting held recently, .when, from tho N speeehes< of tho Mayor and councillors, it. was evident that ■: this. matter bad received wise and> full consideration before it was placed before .'he' ratepayers. I learn, too, that of the nine councillors, in addition to the Mayor, seyen are in favour of the proposal. Tho oounpih moreover, consists of hard-headed '• men "or wide business experience. Now, - these, nien aro not studying any particular few" ! ratepayers, .but rather what will be tho" greatest good' to.the greatest part;,of. the borough/ i: Who would think of. extending.). the tram service if there woro not ■the '•. promiso of a large increase ..in the populationP There are hundreds who have Ixjught sections' in Karori with a view to building a , home; but are only waiting until the tram^,service, is completed.' We know,there are a few ratepayers near, the present terminus who compare the value of their land with that of knd at the far end of the borough, but what has; made their , land; so valuable but tho tram? .Seventy-five por cent, of the ratepayers aro helping to pay the rates on the ■ present tramway, but; only 25 per cent, rocciyo tho benefit. ,'. ■ "■ ; V,;. ■'•'■' :■■■

: ■■>' Let us forget self and take broader Views, and; advocate'. for a service 'that'- will - benefit the whole: district; not merely'the residents ,near ,tho;cemetery.., It 'has Been freely circulated that :tbe : councillors iwouldcwrrow money for this i extension at ' a\li)gh rate of interest.; Now,l ;'hav.e, made'if my..- business' ,to inquire,- and, find/that not 'a-single oouncillor is iu favour of paying' more ■■than ■ 4J. per cent*, and they that the ■ monoy oan be borrowed! at a rate less than this.— I am, etc., ' '■■.-. ''.' ,';'.' '':■■■. ■• : : '■■,:. ■.-■•••/•:•;,■■-r.-/ ■■:••■ ■ ■■■.'■ -unselfish; July 26. ,; ; --'. v-■.:.•■.■.;■.;.'v,=-v.;..-;i; r ; ' ; ; 'REASONS AGAINST 'THE- LOANS.'/f anyone . expect our-council 1 to take an unbiased. vieiv.of these' I think, not.! .Bight members, jof' tho r couii-' cil' live close' to the proposed extension:' Six mombers"(out of nine) are interested in big blocks of land to bo tapped by tho_ proposed lino. ' Carrying such proposals will defer into the faa; distant future other municipal which,- from/a public ; health 'point of: veiny will very, soon: become, urgent.. By a-nd'by, with the development now going, on at the oity end of tJie borough, there. will be: a.demand .from the. Beautiful Karori block, (which is fast filling up) for. drainage, etc.... wlliat : willbe the position: if this ;loan 'is carried?- The council will .find itself ,so j heavily indebted that no furtlie'r loans; would bo obtainable. /Then wo would have another big part of. tiho borough petitioning for 'ad-, mission-to the city'to get, those necessary. sorvices Karori could not afford.: '". ■'■. „ \:

If the ratepayers sanction tin's loan .the borough will find itself with a debt equal to\ 56 for every man. woman, and child in 'it.. But.these proposals meaa morethan £h<? ad-'j dition of £27,500 to the borough's already hoav}' indebtedness. There is the loss oil running the cars, which/no orie.(nqt being j .blinded-.by"■ self-interest) who has, given. any. thought to .the matter puts, at Joss than , £1000 per annum-for several years to come. This is equal to interest, etc.' on a further £20,000, which means a total debt equal to .£3OO for each arid every ■ dwelling , ■in the borough. "What pan our councillors bo thinking of P v It is terrible to contemplate, a debt equal to £300 for every house in the borough. Thanks to our .over-watchful Rate-', payers' Association, the outrageous nature of these proposals has been exposed. .The association deserves well, of the ratepayers for its action in.this matter.: I trust tlio ratepayers will endorse this action- and' voto to the last , man .(for every, vote will-bo needed) against ' such ' ill-considered • proposals. By ■throwing" out these proposals they will not deter the council from submitting a more reasonable and saner scheme and not defer by one. day (in fact they will hasten) the opening of' a ■ more reasonable ■extension, an extension to:meet the needs of 95 per cent, of the residents, without involving the borough in } financial . straits.. By and bjyas settlement takes, place, thesb land companies oan have a still further oxtonsion. They oan have their line .now, if they will come forward and guarantee the borough against loss. . Why don't tihoy do so ? Is it because they 'know the loss incurred would ruin thomP I think so.—l am,; etc., '•: ■"■■ J ■ ■•■"■'. ; . '".;'.'" ■.':.'",'-■.. '■.....

; :' : LOOK BEFOEBvYOU LEAP. Karori, July 26, 1909. .'.,'.'■.' .

A REPLY TO CRITICS. Sir, —Kindly allow mo to place a few facts before the ratepayers, many of whom aro being misled, by false/statemente by tho opponents of the scheme. • Ist. By tho terms of tiho first loan for present trams.the borough is oonunitted to a bus service 'to the-end of tho Main Road, at tho foot of Makara'Hill.' : , :'■': ■ "'..- : 2nd. A half-way tram; as suggested by tlio opposition, would not do away with tho necessity for'continuing a bus Borneo to tho end of iiho;road. .■■'•■■■ ; / ' ■■'•. ■ 3rd. Of tho whole loan proposed, only £7000 is required to complete fcho tram from tho Council Chambers to the terminus. Interest on tins, with sinking fund (together, 5i per cent.) is only £375 per annum, which is less than tilie loss on a bus service for that...distance would be! •■. ;■ ~ '4th.'.The- Borough Council never intended to borrow. money at a higher rate than that proposed and pro-, vidod for in tlio loan proposals. A resolution to pay not more than 4 i per cent, for money is what the majority of tho council,; if not all, aro pledged to. .' ': ■ fitli.' An offer of money at H per cent, is waiting tlio result of the poll, and personally I think it con bo got shortly at eyoa a lowor rate , ■ . ■.-"■■"...■■■.:.: ■- 'v.' :■

Ctb. To the average householder this nieansa rate equal to Os. 2d. per £100 of tho unimproved value.-on. their sections, not a ruinous" rate in! view of'.the facility- fop travelling and the ■; development of tfho . borough. _ . '■■/■ •; 7th.: Against this should bo placed the in- ' creased earnings of tdio present lino, eo ro- •' ducing'tiho rate.to.bo levied on loans 4 and 5 for existing line.. '■■''.■ ... . ..: ' .: • None of tho landholders along the present' lino wcro asked to contribute towards tho cost of same; yet all have received marked benefits in tho convenience it gives them for .travelling, 'and in ihccnbanccd values they : ' are getting for their properties. It is tfoerolOTO inequitable to expect other ownore to make special contributions on tho extension unless they are relieved from their.rates on ■ the existing line. VI trust that the smalL holders and residents will soo to it that this opportunity.is not allowed to pass. Tlw opponents of tho -scheme are only -tJioso who a.ro already served and who cannot think at all. of-.what is for the good of. the whole' ; borough, but only of their personal interests. v ' —I am, otc., , ■■■"•■ T ,'■- CHAS. CATHIE. V ■ Jnly 26. ■ ■~•:■• ~ - .-■ -..: ■'.; ;.,;,. .-..;. o. .■■■, RATEPAYERS V. SYNDICATES.'; i: Sir,—l hopo tboratopayeri'aro not going to allow themselves; to bVmado tho cat'spaw of tho syndicates at the-coming poll on ; , the tramway extension question. In tho loss ' lon tho buses—say, roundly, £500, though; it is not actually eo much—they pay. the interest on £10,000—again epeaking roundly. The syndicates artfully say they will get rid' of that; What they really mean is that that? ■■' particular amount will disappear in a larger' one, not that it will not have to, bo' paid. 1 As a matter of fact, tho ratepayers will have ' 1 to pay tho interest on £30,000 instead of on £10,000. Is this going to enhance tho attractions of Karori as a place to live inf Already Karori is known in more places than -. ono, if objections made to mo pereonally gtate a fact, as a good place to live out of. _ Tho recreation ground will bo a good-stalk-ing horse for the syndicates when tho Mira- : ■■ mar ground pays, not before. The public is not going td pay more, and. .take more timd to get to Karori recreation ground than it pays and takes to got ; to another just as con-; ■ venient.- , , • •.■■•',. ■ • .;■..: •

; If the ratepayers do pulloufc the chestnuts from tho firo of tho ballot-box for tho syndicates on. let them bear in mind that they burn both paws. : One will be branded with a scorching interest on a loan that is not going to pay ailyone in- middle age of the present,generation!; and the other will bear the record, of a lost opportunity, the opportunity of'carrying a poll for taking the tram to the borough chambers at half the present proposed cost. Such a tram will serve 00 per cent, of > tho pooplo that' the syndicates proposo to serve, excluding themselves;—l am* ete;j V,- '■■■'■ ■'■■:■•.. :.■-■:■ F. V. WATERS. ■July 26. ■;■.■/;■