TRAM, BUS OR BOAT?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1680, 21 February 1913, Page 5

TRAM, BUS OR BOAT?

♦ FOR MIRAMAR. FERRY SUBSIDY ATTACKED. At the general meeting of the Miramar Borough Council last,evening Mr. Brodie, an ex-mayor of Miranulr, headed a deputation, tho purpose being to dissuado the oouncil from granting tho subsidy of <£200 that it is proposed to grant the Ferry Company, to continue to run their boats to Karaka Boy. • ■ ,-,i In introducing tho deputation, • Mr. Brodio stated tnat when ino boats Were not running; women anil children tramped along tlio iorcshoro to c-utcn a tram at tieatoun, jvt it was.ptoposad to pay the Ferry Company a A'2OU subsidy to Keep up a sorvico wnicli was of no use to the borough, but rather retarded its progress. Tho men who used the ferry boats were more capablo of doing the fralk than women and children. The epeaker then lead a petition containing over 300 names, protesting, against this subsidy. It was suggested that a motor bus tervico should bo inaugurated, or (if the •traffic warranted it) an extension of tho trains towards Karaka Bay. , , ' ' ' Mr. F. 'X'ownt-end spoko in support of Mr. Brodio. He was surprised that tho council proposed to grant a subsidy to keep a boat running to Karaka Bay. lie oould not understand how the council could seriously consider 6Uth a proposal to pay <E2OO to detract people from thenown tramo. 'Hio fcrry hdd. beta started; ivhon there were practically no people in Miramar and it did seem absurd that they should now give a subsidy when there were 1500 or 1700 pcpplo in the place. Ho did iiot wish to deprive the; people on the water-front of: a means of communication, but he considered it; was better to look after their own trains.. ; ,

Councillor Bell, who pl-eiiided in the Mayor's abserice, siid that ihey wfcre all at one.in wishing to provide beitcr communicatioh with tho city. When it was threatened tlwt tho boats were to bo taken off it wiis necessiity to provide a moons of communication l'cr tho people at Jvarakri Bay and the council considered that to pay .£2OO was tile cheapest way out of tho difficulty. If the.v mn a 'bus or. bi'nke it would cost - mom thrtu'. JC2OO a year. If nothing'better was suggested ho would vote for tho subsidy and seo it throiigll. He ivas going to stand by tllo Ivaraka Bay neople. The extension of tho trams would cost, in interest on tho cost of ex-; tendon and in upkeep, quite. jiTOO . per j'ear. The council were sot'ious in their intention to fcce a tunnel put through the hill to give better communication. About 150 people travelled daily by the boat, and if they travelled by the trams the council would have to seo sohio way of taking them to the trains, and to do'that would cost moro than. i! 200 a year. - Councillor Bowie said 1 that it-was all very well to suggest.ideas, but they had to be seriously considered, and in th& meantime something had to bo done. A motor-'bus serviee would tost • <£250 -pet year over and above what tho fares would bring m nnd would take about twice as long to get to town as by tho boat. The council had a petition from sohio 100 ratepayers supporting tho ferry bei'Vico. Tlib bulk of this traffic occurs all at ' olio time ftiul iJiey nave (o oonader how many extra cars would be necessary to meet rush requirements. When the, deputation withdrew Councillor Bell assured them that their representfttions would bo . fully considered.