CUBA STREET CARS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 5

CUBA STREET CARS.

RECENT COMPLAINTS.

TRAMWAY BOARD'S REPORT. With reference to the interview recently held between a deputation representing tho Cuba Street, Shopkeepers'Association aud His Worship' the Mayor regarding the running of a more frequent tram service through Cuba Street, the Tramway Board reported to the City Council last night that they had looked into this matter, and found that the time-table as at present allowed.for a ten-minutes' servico in the- morning, and with the exception of onca every hour, a five-minutes' service during the afternoon. Arrangements are being made to corrcctthis gap so that a- five-minutes' servico will be maintained by regular cars on the Newtown lino throughout tho afternoon. The cost of duplicating tho. track through -Cuba Street' is; estimated to be about, £3000. No great benefits, it was pointed out,. would be obtained by '.duplication of this portion of tlm Newtown, route, unless tho duplication was also carried out in Vivian Street. Tim board is of opinion that tho present track is sufficient to ' maintain, a fiveminutes'' servico to Newtown, which would-bo sufficient to meet tho requirements.

Councillor J. Godber moved that the report bo referred back for further consideration. He contended that tho deputation had mado'out/a very strong caso for a. more frequent service in' Wellington Central and, Wellington West, At. tho! present time tliore .was prac* tically only one car going from, theso, portions of . tho city to tho railway stations. He was of opinion that there should be a ; servico through Cuba Street, both morniug aiid afternoon, instead of in tho afternoon only.. The. Wallace, Street car should not be; following within half a minute of tho Newtown car.

Councillor it. A."Wright seconded the motion to refer the report back. Latterly, the cars had been running not . nearly as frequently, as formerly, and tho general public and tho business people liad good ground for complaint.' It might be more economical,, lie said, to run the cars along Coiirtenay Place, but lie did .not think tlio question' or economy should be overdono. Councillor ,W. H. P. Barber was at a loss to understand the shopkeepers' / complaint, seeing that tile people did not do their shopping in tho, cars. Ho thought Cuba Street was very well served. What be would like to" seo improved was the running of the cars in • better succession. At tlio present time it was a common thing to see a procession of six carsi.. . .

Councillor L. ■ M'Kenzio objected to this coiitiminl tinkering with tlio liianagomont. He agreed that some steps might be taken to obviate the processions of cars, but he averred that tho service generally had' been improved of late. Ho was going' to', support the adoption; of the report. ' - Councillor J. K. Fitzgerald also, simported tlio adoption of the reriort. He hoped that the council would: not, lot those interested in Cuba Street dictatf •a policy to .the Tramway Board. Se long as there was a single lino through Cuba Street it would never do' to allow it to become congested., .. '/ After further discussion, the amendment- was lost, and the report adopted on the voices/ ,