WADESTOWN'S LOAD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1762, 29 May 1913, Page 6

WADESTOWN'S LOAD.

EXPENSIVE TRAMS,

SOME RELIEF ASKED FOR.

The heavy burdc-n borne by the ratepayers of Wadestown -was tho subject upon which a deputation of residents of that suburb interviewed the Mayor (Mr. J. P, Luke) yesterday. When the tramway service was extended to Wadestown tlio residents undertook to pay 3Jd. in the pound to meet the cost of the loan, .£33,000. This rate produced ,£1505 annually, and the shortage had to bo made up by tho ratepayers. In view of the fact that new rates for- tho city will shortly bo struck, they wished to make their position, clear, to the authorities before a further load was placed upon them. Tho deputation was introduced, by Mr. A. E. Atkinson.

Mr. C. Cooke, on behalf of tho deputation, pointed out that since tho cars commenced running to Wadestown many extensions liad been made in other districts, and nil charged to tramways account. Wadestown people thought that in tho circumstances they should not be kept to their special agreement, but should bo put on the samo footing as other districts. Tho high rates were, lio said, retarding the progress of the district, for people could not afford to pay the fares (which he thought too liigh), and tho rates as well. Moreover, the district was not credited with all its traffic, one-third of that along . the Molesivorth Street section being appropriated by the city. He enlarged upon the attractions of Wadestown, citing chiefly tho bush reserve at the back of tho hill, and urged that it was time tho Wadestown trains ivero, pooled with those of tho city. '.Mr. Edgar Wylie, supporting Mr. Cooke, said Wadestown got no credit for building up a great asset to the city. Ho stated further that when the residents undertook to pay tho special ttito, they did not contemplate that tho full cliargo would be imposed. • In ~time the lino would pay and'then .tho .eity would tnko it over. He thought that ramio- portion of tlio rate should bo at postponed, and that futuro generations should bo required to pay some part of the cost. Mr. Cecil Palmer spoke on behalf of the residents of Goldie's Brae. Ho urged that some alteration of the fores should be made in their favour, for Goldie's Brae lind been included in tho special rating area on the strength of distinct statements mado that tlio faro would be olio penny to Laiubton- station. The faro was, however, fixed at twopence, and it cost Goldie's Brae residents threepence, to go by their own route to tho post oflicc. As a consequence they patronised tho Thorndon Quay trams. They wero further penalised by having their rates assessed on what were really city values, and the values had not boon increased by tho tram, but rather decreased.

Mr. C. Smith supported the other speakers in the statement that the burden of the rates was keeping the district back. The Mayor, in reply, said that his own personal opinion was that the Wadestown people should hare a good clianco of having their trams pooled with those of the city. It seemed to him that the cases of Brooklyn and Wadestown should be> about tho same, and Brooklyn's trams were pooled with the city services. Ho had thought Wadestown would go ahead when the trains -were si-arled, and although this, had not come ahout yet, _ho was . snro settlement would como in time. He thought also that Wadestown should receive some consideration in tho matter of tho special rate, and the payment of tho shortage in revenue, for tho trams were of service oiot only to Wadestown but to tho city. The Wadestown section should be extended to the General Post Office ill the meantime, until the site of tho new railway station was fixed. When' the Government decided this, tho station would bo the new terminus for all trains, and "Wadestown would be 110 longer penalised. Of the loan of .£33,000 raised, .£1784 was still unexpended, and he suggested that this balance should bo invested and the income used to relievo the present burden ou the ratepayers. The Mayor concluded by reminding tho deputation that he had made 110 promise, but lie was in favour of something being dono for Wadestown people, and he would bring their requests before tho council. >