"A STRONG MANDATE."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 843, 15 June 1910, Page 3

"A STRONG MANDATE."

SHORTER CAR ROUTE TO KARORI. THE RESIDENTS AND THE COUNCIL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION URGED. The much-discussed question ii shortening the tramway route to Karon- by taking a lino along Upland Road, from the Baker's Kill tunnel, to connect with the Kelburne cable, car was again championed by Karon ratepayers last evening, when a deputation consisting of about 50 ratepayers waited upon the Borough Council to urge favourable consideration of the proposal. The scheme has beea outlined several times within the. past fortnight. It will ■ be remembered that a meeting of Karori residents unanimously expressed their approval of the proposed new route. At a special meeting last week, the Karori Borough Council, by five votes to four, rejected a motion, submitted by Counoillar Wedde, > that certain inquiries should be made with a view to taking a poll of the ratopaj-ers upon the proposal. It was arranged last evening that a vote on the debate following the representations of the deputation'should be deferred until all membe-s of the council were present, Councillor Cathie being absent through illness. Councillor Wedde said that he did not desire to have the schemo adopted by what might be termed a "snatch." vote, for he knew that Councillor Cathie was opposed to it. Effect on Population. Mr. J. Mills, the first speaker, apolo-. gised for the absence of several wellknown residents, who had given whole--hearted support to the proposal put forward by the ratepayers. The deputation felt that the scheme was a good one, and that as about -27 minutes would be saved on a return journey, and a halfpenny would be'saved to passengers on each trip, a large number of people would be induced to take up their residence in Karori. The interest on the estimated outlay" would bo guaranteed twice over. The viaduct, which had been strongly built, would require little or no strengthening before cars could bo run over it. The speaker hoped that the council would fall in with the wishes of a large number of the ratepayers, and at least investigate the matter. Mr. Newcombe remarked that it was a unanimous 'desire on the part of residents of the borough that they should be brought as near to Wellington as possible, and it was highly desirable that tho council should inquire into ways and means for shortening the tramway route. The speaker expressed the opinion that residents were no better off now than they were when only coaches were running. "Mandate of the Ratepayers." . Mr._ W. G. Tustin considered that the adoption of the scheme was tho unanimous desire of the ratepayers, and the resolution of support carried by one of the .'largest'meetings of Karori ratepayers ought to be looked upon by the council almost as. a mandate. The halfpenny a trip saved by a business man, although a small amount, was 'sufficient to pay a library subscription for his family. Residents asked for an opportunity to vote on the matter. (Applause.) Speaking as one of the earliest residents of Karori, Mr. Porter said that lie had left tho district because he could not spare the time required in travelling to and from the .city. He hoped to 'return to the borough'when, better tramway facilities were available. "Unless we do get somo quicker means of transit," concluded Mr. Porter, "we will never get any: population out here worth speaking of." (.Applause.) Expected Result: Increased Values. ' Mr. T. Ward, engineer, remarked that, as a large- ratepayer, he wanted to' see property values increase. If the proposal,.now., put forward .. were . adopted, land round about the cemetery would be brought quite as close to the city as Hataitai. Mr. Marchbauks had given an opinion that the viaduct was quite strong enough for car traffic,, lor which purpose it had been built by Mr. Fulton, bridge engineer. Mr. Leo Davis opposed the scheme, expressing the opinion that it was promoted chiefly for the benefit of "land sharks" and speculators. A subsequent speaker remarked that the requisition handed, in to the council, as' the result of. the rntepapers' meeting, bore about 170 names,' which fact indicated, that a good deal of interest had been aroused. Figures had been quoted, and it was contended that the council ought to take steps to prove those figures. The. Mayor (JIK C. ,1. Dasent) congratulated the deputation upon their moderation and brevity, and informed them that the council would debate the matter, but that, as tho schemo would not 1)0 voted upon until later on, a reply must necessarily bo deferred. . Discussion in the Council. Councillor Weddc then moved again tho motion thrown out at last week's special meeting of the'council: . "That with a view fci a poll of ratepayers now liable for the tramway and road-widening l"an (that is, v tlio old borough of Aarori) being taken to raise a loan for the purpose of laying a tramway across Kelburne from the power-house a cross, the viaduct, a special committee be' set up to confer with the Wellington City Council and all the other necessary bodies or companies for the purpose of obtaining their approval and cooperation in the carrying out of the same." In placing the matter before the council, Councillor Wedde said that, a saving in car mileage of 14, chains per trip meant a saving of one-tenth of the cost— one-tenth of .£3758, .£375. The Kelburne Trannvay Company had guaranteed a subsidy of JE3OO a year for five years, and there were clear advantages over the proposed Sydney Street route, and over the present route. If tho Sydney Street route were laid, down the inconvenience ■ of standing in the cars would not be removed at all, and that route' was six minutes longer than the proposed line over Kelburne. The motion only asked for investigation, and surely the wishes of the ratepayers should be considered. "Battling for Sydney Street Route." An objection had been made, continued Councillor Wedde, ljecause of legal difficulties outlined by the Mayor, but there was now a written opinion, which guided tho council, and which made it clear that the raising of a- loan was not an illegal or impossible undertaking. It was not considered that the cost of laying down the proposed new line would exceed .£BOOO. The Karori Council knew now, sub rosa, that the City Council were now "battling for the Sydney Street route for all they were worth." The time was now opportune, and it was incumbent upon the council to approach the City Council with a view to their sanctioning the proposal. The Kclburno cable line would net cost the ratepayers anything, and, if it were possible, he would suggest that Karori people should put down the Upland Road tramway without putting any part of the cost-upon Northland. The proposal was one for which a syndicate would promptly find .£IO,OOO, i.f they could bo given authority to proceed with the undertaking. With tho cars going up Sydney Street, Karori people would have a rido of ten minutes less duration, but the cars would be just as crowded, and passengers going fight through would still have' to stand. The Ideal Route. Councillor Hildreth, in seconding the motion, said that, the Kelburne outewas tho ideal route. He could not understand liuiv the council had sanctioned the construction of tho present line, and he believed that, if the proposal were not allowed to go through, tho people of the borough would get a new council. (Laughter.) If sufficient representation had not now been made, it would bo difficult to get a mandate sufficiently strong to convince the council. Councillor Burno said that ho was not satisfied about tho scheme, and he felt sure that, lie could get a legal opinion quite different to that obtained by Councillor Wedde from the borough solicitor.

(Laugl\ter.) He was stiU in doubt about the power to divert profits on the proposed new line to cover losse3 on tho lower line. Councillor Raine said that he had long been in favour of the Kelburne route. Leaving the down car at the tunnel, he could walk across Kelburne and reach his office as quickly as he could by remaining on the car right to the city. Before a poll could be taken, tho proposal would have to be sanctioned by the council, who would have an opportunity later of discussing the whole position. Where was the reason, then', for opposition to the motion? Councillor Slanden also' supported the motion. Mayor Sums Up the Opposition. The Mayor, at the conclusion of the debate, referred to the suggestion that somebody else would lav the proposed line. He said that tho'Kelburne Company had been refused permission to continue their line to connect with the present line at the tunnel,, because the City Council, bound to equip the Karori line, would not allow any undertaking when would wreck traffic on the present lines. For a • similar reason the City Council would not lay the line, and nobody but the Karori" Council would be permitted to put down the proposed line. Tho Kelburno Company had offered ,£3OO a year for five years, but the company might expect .to receive „CIGSO per annum from an estimate of 400,000 fares. If the proposal now made were left alone for a little time, the City Council would' form the Sydney Street route at their own expense. Against that, the suggestion put forward now was that Karori should pay ,£IO,OOO for the Kelburne line, receiving 'in return MOO from the Kelburne Company. The difference in time taken on the proposed Sydney Street route and on the proposed Kelburne route would not be more than three minutes, which saving in time might easily be lost on the Kelburno route in tho two changes of cars. It was only by running the cars in a crowded state that tho Borough Council had been able to meet . the running cost. At the previous meeting, he had not misled tho council, for ■ ho had not been quoting the borough solicitor. In regard to the rating of a special area for the construction of the of tho proposed work, he was still of opinion that the rating of such an area could not legally be accomplished. If a poll of the city people resulted in the throwing out of the scheme, even if Karori people were found to be favourable, the proposal could not be carried out. The matter was further discussed, but the talcing of a vote upon the motion was deferred..