HUTT VALLEY TRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1103, 17 April 1911, Page 6

HUTT VALLEY TRAMS.

LIVELY MEETING OF THE BOARD. DISSOLUTION SUGGESTED. Mr. S. W. M'Ewan (chairman), Messrs. 11. l/indlay, J. Austin, J. T. iiawtliorn, It. J. tjoutligatc, 11. Baldwin, and Kobe. Stevens were present at a special meeting of tho Hutt valley Tramway board heiu oil Thursday evening. Prior to the business of the meeting, the resignation of Mr. Stevens, and a letter on the policy of the- board, from Mr. iLawilioi'ii were consiutri'u. iur. Hawthorn stated that at the last meeting of the board ho was undecided us to what position he would take up in reference io the loan proposal of ,£(j!>,000. Now, however, after mature consideration, ho wished to inform members that he would strongly opposo the loan, both publicly and privately. He added that in the near iuture he believed "greater and better proposals" could be put baforo tho ratepayers. Mr. Stevens submitted a written explanation to the effect that following on the letter received from Mr. Hawtnorn, he felt that he had no alternative but to resign his scat. Also, he suggested that in view of the fact that members of the board could not agree on the question, it would be futilo to proceed with a poll of ratepayers. The board, ho considered, should formally dissolve, and delegate the chairman and secretary to wind up its affairs. ■ • ; In tho discussion which followed tho chairman said ho presumed that all that remained, to do was simply to receive it. At tho same time, however, he said he was greatly surprised (hat Mr. Hawthorn should have written the letter in question, especially in view of what had taken . placo at the last meeting. "I think," remarked Mr. M'Ewan, "that even if ho was not in favour of the. motion (deciding to approach tho ratepayers for the third time) it would have been very much more to tho purpose if he had offered to resign, or made up his mind not to take a prominent part either for or against the scheme." Mr. Hawthorn: Mr. Chairman, it is not your business to tell me to resign. I take strong exception to your remark. Mr. M'Ewan: I did not say that you should resign. I merely pointed out your two alternatives. Mr. Hawthorn: I'll go a bit stronger, and say I won't resign; and I'll stick to my guns. While thero is a board I'll bo a member. It is for the ratepayers and not you to say that I must resign! lie added that since the tramways were originally mooted conditions had changed. The Government,.for instance, had given an assurance that water-power would soon be available. It might bo some time i Mr. Southgale: Twenty or thirty years. *' Continuing, Mr. Hawthorn said that 75 per cent, of the people were heartily sick of tho board, and, no niatter what scheme was put before them, it would bo "turned down solidly." Petone ratepayers in particular would not listen to it. That being the case, what was tho use of "us sitting here?" "Well, will you tell us this much," interjected Mr. Findlay, "is tho need for trams in the Valley just as great as over?" Mr. Hawthorn: Every bit. Probably no man stands to benefit by tho. tram's more than myself. In tho course of a lengthy speech, the chairman said it was hopeless to expect, anything to come of the Government water-power scheme until at least five or six years. The board went out in February next, by cllluxion of time. An election of members was required lo be taken in June next. The expenses of an election and a poll were almost nn a par, and, under the circumstances, was it not better to take another poll, and then, if the board was again beaten, let members resign? Mr. M'Ewnn warned members that when the board ceased lo exist, its powers would revert severally to tho two borough councils. Once (hat came to pass all hope of a joint, scheme—which was the only practical scheme for tho Valley —would be effectually knocked on the head. Touching on the suggestion lo buy power from the Government, Mr. M'Ewan said he would go further: "Why not," he remarked, "ask the Wellington City Council if it would be prepared to sell electric powey to the bonrtl? At present, they aro catering at a prico which the board cannot hope to compete with. We could continue to buy the power until the Government was ready with its scheme." Mr. Slovens, who did not. put in an appearance at tho meeting until late in the evening, here said that ho certainly thought Mr. Hawthorn, holding the view's he did, should have resigned his position. Mr. Austin also took Mr. Hawthorn severely to 'ask for his alleged change of front. According tu Mr. Baldwin, if he had boon at thu last iiiieting, ho would certainly have voted against the eight-miles scheme. "I want," he said, "the whole scheme, or no scheme at all, because it (the short route) is no use to the Hutt." Alter further discussion, it wn.- reported to the press that a bad been carried that the. lean proposal of .£63,000 for an eight-mile service bo proceeded with, and that Mr. Hawthorn hurt agreed to withdraw active opposition to the proposal, understanding that the board at it? last meeting agreed lo dissolve in the event of the poll beiug unsuccessful. Mi'. Stevens, in consequence, agreed to withdraw his resignation. Tho poll will be taken in about six wcoki' time.