TRAMWAY FREIGHT SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 59, 3 December 1919, Page 9

TRAMWAY FREIGHT SERVICE

COUNCILLOR NORWOOD'S IDEA AND TRAMWAY MANAGER'S REPORT At the last meeting of tho City Council, Councillor C. B. Norwood gave notice of motion as follows-.—(a) To erect suitable buildings adjacent to tho Milk Station for the receiving and more economical handling of parcel delivery services of 'tho tramway system, (b) That the neccisary siding, which must be run into the Milk Station for the purpose' of handling many tons of mills in and out of the station daily, be made to serve (he doublo purpose and lessen tho aggregate cost 'to both departments. These notices of motion 'came before a special meeting of tho council, held yesterday afternoon, when tho actim; tramways manager (Mr. M. Cable) sub.mftled the following roport:— '"After giviug (iho question of thp development of the tramway freight service very } careful consideration, I am of tho opinion that tho main city depot should be loeated near Wakefield Street and in tho vicinity of tho markets. -'For tiho handling of all classes of goods, produce, building material and coal, this locality possesses outstanding advantages. From inquiries made somo timo ago it would appear that no'great difficulty will be experienced -in arranging for our freight cars to make a direct connection with the goods sheds proposed to bo built in conjunction with the niw railway station at the Thorndon end of tho city. With sucilii a connection, perishable goods of all descriptions could bo loaded at tho railway goods sheds, and on arriving at a distributing depot at Te Aro, goods and produce for tup' markets could be delivered expeditiously and at a low cost.

"As it is understood that the Harbour Board propose constructing a coal wharf in'the vicinity of the Clyde Quay Wharf, and also that a yard is to be provided with special facilities for loading coal into vehicles, a comparatively short length of track would enable trucks constructed for handling coal at this yard for delivery to distributing points in the various suburbs.

Single Truck Cars Expensive, "It.may bo mentioned hero that the time is noli far distant when serious consideration will require to lie given to the question of discarding the uso of the singlo truck passenger cars on account of tlicit low earning capacity, compared with the high 'rates paid for platform labour. When lihis is given effect to tho nndergears of these cars will bo available for mounting freight bodies. "When considering arrangements for dealing with the' carriage of heavy freight an eifort should be made to avoid, as far as jwsible, the necessity for fihe freight vehicles travelling over congested lines; by tho selection of a site for the main depot in tho locality mentioned above this result could, to a large extent,, be attained. Locality Unsuitable. "A distributing centre located near the Milk Depot would prove very inconvenient for handling luggage received from the railway station and wharves and goods from the warehouses. Apart from this disadvantage, there is _ also tho difficulty to be faced in providing ft track connection; to lay a lino either from Cuba Street or Willis Street into Dixon. Street would necessitate the use of curves of exceedingly short' radii, which are undesirable both from a maintenance and operating point of view. If it is considered imperative that a tramway connection should be given to the Milk Depot, the best plan would bq to run a siding up Dixon Street, starting from a point near Tarnnaki Street. Tinder existing rates I estimate the cost of this connection would amount to approximately jCJODO. Suburban Distributing Centres. (c) "That a distributing station bo established in each economic centre in the outlying districts." . "Wellington, probably to a larger extent than any other town in Now Zealand, could iiiake extensive use of its street lines for tbe economic handling ot goods and freight on account of the difficulty of access to many of tho suburbs. Being of the opinion that there is a future for this ny?thnd of transportation in nwl around "Wellington, I consider it wouid be in tho best interests of the corporation to secure at. an early date at least one suitable site for a distributing depot in each of the principal suburbs. Even although the immediate requirements of the freight service may not warrant tho construction of si' igs and depots on suburban sites 1 bo., ;e it is only a matter of time when the expansion of the business will necessitate steps being taken in this direction, and unless something is done in the near future great difficulty will lw experienced m acquiring suitable sites. In the case of the eriitJi'ii suburbs the construction of « comparatively short length of _ track from tlie Miramar line along Miraniar Avenue would give a direct connection with the Miraniar wharf, and this would enable timMr awl other building mate.rial and if necessary, coal, to be distributed to depots in Miramar, Seatoun, and Kilbirnio very.economically." It was, after discussion, decided that the report should be considered in all its bearings by the members of the JMilk and Tramways Committees.