TRAM SECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 2

TRAM SECTIONS.

THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS. KILBIIiNIE'S PROTEST. RESIDENTS VOICE OPINIONS. A public meeting convened by tho Tvilbirnio ■ Ratepayers' Association wa=: held in the lvilbirnio llull lost night for the purposo of protesting against any alterations in the existing tram sections. Mr. J. ,T. Clark presided over an attendance of about 100 people. Invitations hud been extended to the Mayor and City Councillors to bo present, but only Councillors M'Konzie and Cameron were present. Apologies lor absence were received from the Mayor, Councillors ShirtclifTo, l-'letcher, Barber, and Frost, Dr. A. K. Xewman, M.P., and Messrs. J. P. I.uke and R. A. Wright. Tho chairman, after explaining the objects of tho meeting, stated that if they were going to protest they should do so at once—before tlio alterations came before tho council. The Ratepayer*' Association was of opinion that the trams could be mado to pay without theso alterations. It was possible tu decrease working expenses, and something should be done in that direction boforo other steps were taken. Mr. 11. N. M'Leod, Mayor of Miranmr, contended that tlio interests of his district were in tho main identical with those of Kilbirnie. The proposed alterations, if carried into effect, would mean increased tram fares, a consequent rise in rents for both districts, and a natural exodus to tlio city. This would niako for congested areas in the city, and a diminished number of people travelling to tho outskirts. In fixing tram fares it should bo taken into consideration that an efficient tram servico increased tho value of property in citv and. .suburbs, and it was therefore 011I3" right that a proportion of the, upkeep should bo by rates. Ho maintained that it was in the interests of tho whole community that low tram fares should be fixed to tho suburbs.

Jtr. W. Scott Bedford referred to the alterations in so far as they would affect Lyall Bay. Ho considered that the Tramway Board of Management should have looked carefully into the question of expenditure before they talked of increasing revenue by raising fares. Councillor Cameron commented oil tho fact that there was always trouble' when councillors were invited to Kilbirnie. (Laughter.) They were never invited to a tea-fight or anything of the kind, (laughter.) Tho finances of tho trains had been getting gradually worse. On, each of tho last two years there had been a loss of X'3ooo or *£1000, and it; was practically admitted in the report of the board that tho trams were at present losing. The board was doing good work. They wero experts, free from political pull, and if the meeting went against them it would bump .something pretty solid. After referring at length to tramway extension and other mnttcrs, Councillor Cameron said that tho way to reduce the expenses was to absolutely alter the ticket system and the concession system. He thought that tho ticket system was "about the rottenest in the world." Comparing the trams with the Auckland system, which people boasted was paying, he said that in Wellington the council was always repairing and improving the line, etc. Would you find that in Auckland? (A voice i "Yes, tho council make, them do it.") In conclusion, Councillor Ci.meron said that he thought the council would back up tho proposals of the board.

Councillor Mlveuzie expressed the opinion that much could be saved by more careful administration. He was sure that (he ticket system was too complicated to be carried on with economy. In tho past, also councillors had given all forts of concessions that they had no right to give, and the public wero now suffering.He considered that the public, who owned the undertaking, should know all about the internal working, and he hoped that they would support councillors in tho efforts to, place the system on a sound basis. ,He had. not come there to speak", but to hear tho grievances of tho meeting. Mr. J. Heginbotham, who paid •-E8 in Tates before the trams came, and .£6O since, hoped to continue paying it —(Voice: Through tilttenants!)—but ho believed that if the proposed alterations were carried out thcro would bo a depreciation, and the district would bo thrown back ten years. Even at tho present time capital was not bein<* invested, there was not as much building as should be. What had the Tramway Board done? Brought up a policy to raise .£IO,OOO extra revenue, but not a word about reducing expenditure. Then there was tho traffic management. Had there been any change? One man hail received .£IOO a year more, but there had been no change in tho traffic. Now they were going to get revenue out of trams, and lost it in property assessment. The workers' concession tickets wero referred to by Mr. Heginbotham as "the biggest lot of rot that ever exitsed." The council had been too ready to publish reports of a profit that did not actually exist. The trammcn wanted that profit in an increase of wages, and they got it. Why? Because of the weakness and want of back-bone of the councillors. (Laughter.) If a business man had a concern that was not paying ho could not increaso the wages of the men. After referring to other matters, the sneaker .said that the present move was being taken because money was required, and the council knew that tho ratepayers would not vote a loan.

Mr. A. C. Blnke, Mr. H. Baker, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Burns, and several others snake, and subsequently Councillors M'Kenzio and Cameron replied to certain points. Mr. Dillon moved, and Mr. P. Galvi'n seconded: "That this meeting protests against the raisins of fares by any alteration in the sections." This was carried unanimously.