CITY'S CARS & PETROL THREAT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1853, 12 September 1913, Page 8

CITY'S CARS & PETROL THREAT.

o THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT. WILL GUARD CITY'S INTEREST. Looming in the near perspective of Wellington is a motor 'bus service. In the course of an interview with Mr. W. G. Talbot, secretary of the Kelburne and Karori ilotor 'lius Co., Ltd., which is to institute a service between the terminal head of tho Kellnirne cable tramway and the Karori tunnel in IVovember, he stated that if that service proved to be a success, similar services would be extended to run all over Wellington and suburbs. The operations of a private company running in opposition to the municipal electric tramways is, of course, every citizen's/ concern. j\lr. Talbot's remarks camo under tlio notice of his Worship tho Mayor, and in tho course of an interview with a Dominion representative, Mr. Luke gave his views on the issue. How It Affects Citizens. "All I can say," he remarked, "is that the citizens of Wellington have over -£UUO,UUU invested in electric tramways, on which they have to pay interest/, ana the wnole uusmess oetomes one of finance. We have to find sound security for the investing" public who took up tue tramways loans. Tho tramways themselves are the first security, but if by any chance they were to fail to produce a suiticient return (over aud above working expenses) to pay the interest on the loans, there is power ;jiven to levy a rate on property-owners to meet the deficiency. So the whole of tho financial responsibility is thrown on the ratepayers. It is their business to do everything to make their security sound against a special tramways rate., "The ratepayers .of Wellington have at present a very efficient, and, on tho whole, satisfactory tramway undertaking. Developments in means of transit, which could not be foreseen, are, no doubt, taking place, but it is extremely doubtful if the charges in relation to earning power would favour the motor 'bus as against electric tramways. English Figures Not Applicable Hero. "The figures which have so far been quoted in favour of motor 'buses liavo related to services in England. These services travel over, 1 either woodblocks" or tarred macadam roads, or on tho great highways in tho vicinity of Home cities, which (for tho purposes of traction) are the equivalent of wood-blocks, as far as upkeep and wear and tear aro concerned. Here the proposition becomes- rather different. The 'buses would have to travel over rough macadam roads. Those who knojv tho highways of England will know what I moan, and realise what a difference it means to rubber-tired vehicles, it is not to be expected that-tho roads and streets in- a young country like this could bo as perfect as the roads of England. Many of tho latter were laid down diving the Roman occupational Britain, and tho Romans were considered to be the finest road-builders that tho,world has known. Bill Which Will Affect the Position., "Returning to the point as to competition from motor-'buses, L think that in tho -interests of the citizens tho council should bo given statutory power to tako advantage of any development to build up its tramway undertaking, and, to that end, an amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act is to be introduced to Parliament this session. This amendment will give the City Council the right to run motor-'buscs if it considers it wise to do so, and an opportunity of restricting tho operations of private companies. "London —always London —is being quoted as the place where the, mot-or-'btis is competing favourably against electric trams! That may be so, because surface electric trams are not permitted to run into tho heart of tho city, whereas motor-'buses may go anywhere. The only trams running into London aro the underground tube tramways, which arte successful enough." Mayor's Personal Attitudo "My personal opinion," _ said Mr. Luke, with no little emphasis, "is right up against any exploiting of the public by local private companies or syndicates, aud/as long as lam in office, I will do my best to have the tramways run in tho interests of citizens, and whatever be the changed conditions, to keep the finances sound. "All figures so far quoted in connection with a petrol service have a British basis, but it must bo remembered that in Britain tho cost of the cars, rubber goods, and petrol is much cheaper than it is horo. Another tiling to be considered, too, is that wages aro a | deal higher in New Zealand, and the hours worked by employees arc shorter than in England. When all these things are considered (not forgetting the difference in road surfaces); the cost per car mile per individual passenger on a motor-'bus would not bo appreciablyless —if it was .less at all—than the cost of running electric tramways. If it can ■be done more cheaply with efficiency of service and comfort, then I must interest myself to meet the hew. conditions. Still there is no desiro to adopt a dog-in-the-manger policy with regard to the Kelburne Motor 'Bus Company. Wo have shown that by- agreeing to redeck tho viaduct bridge at Kelburne, but, in the interests of the community as owners of the tramways, I am, opposed to exploiting tho public by a private company to tlie detriment of our tramway returns." THE OUTLOOK. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. Respecting tEe power of municipalities to institute a motor-'bus service, in conjunction or otherwise with an electric tramway service, the following clauso is included in tho Municipal Corporations Act, which has been circulated and is now before the House. The provision is contained in Clauso 23, which reads: — "Tho council may establish, maintain, and regulato a sorvico for the conveyance of passengers and goods to and from any place within tho borough, or with the consent of any neighbouring local authority, between any place within the borough, and any place within tho district of that local authority, or the council may contribute out of the district fund to any such servico established or 'maintained by any person or company or by any other local authority." Since tho Bill was circulated it is said that an addition to_ this clauso will bo proposed, making it possible for municipalities to work in partnership with any, private company engaged in tho conveyance of passengers and goods. This, according to Mr. Martin, the secretary of tho New Zealand Municipal Association, and well-known authority on municipal law, is quite a new principle in municipal law. Hitherto a local authority has been empowered to subsidise many institutions and objects out of the district fund, but has not been able to become interested in any project and participate in profits. Tho now clause will mako this possible.