ISLAND BAY TRAMS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 255, 22 July 1921, Page 5

ISLAND BAY TRAMS

DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL LINE TO BE DUPLICATED IF MONEY AVAILABLE Matters of interest to Island Bay residents were brought under 1 the nutlike of the City Council last evening by a large deputation of members of the Island Bay Ratepayers’ Association. The deputation was introduced by Councillor M. F. Buckie, and the speakers were Messrs. A. S. Collins and G. S. Price. Mr. Collins presented the resolutions passed at a public meeting at Island Bay on July 4, and went on to state that the residents of the district demanded — not in a threatening manner—that the promises made by previous councils should be acted upon. Referring particularly to tramways, he urged that reasonable facilities should be given residents of the suburb to reach their places of business in the morning, and to return to their homes at night. The present service was hopelessly inadequate. It was time that the council treated Island Bay, not as a fishing village, but as an up-to-date suburb. Ho earnestly trusted that the council would duplicate the tramway lino to Island Bay, and if it could not do the work out of loan money then the cost should bo borne out of revenue. The Island Bay line was the best paying section of tho tramways, and was entitled to better treatment. Another matter stressed by Mr. Collins was the necessity for conserving the foreshore in the interests of Island Bnv residents and the public generally. The council should also retain all land secured at the Bay by a previous council for the purposes of a rest park, and should not 1 lift tho proclamations placed on part of the proposed area. The Mayor’s Reply. The Mayor said he understood that the present council was prepared to redeem every promise made by previous councils, if it possibly could. Mr. Collins had said that the proposed work would not be costly. It would, however, cost between .£5OOO and £6OOO, notwithstanding the material already there. In regard to the question of giving the duplication priority over other work, he wish, ed to make an explanation about renewals. There’was always a sum of money—a certain amount of the tramway revenue—earmarked for the purpose of renewing parts of tho track that were unsafe. Thus there was always money in hand for renewals, while there might be none for duplications. So the Island Bay people should not misunderstand what was being done if they saw further renewals carried out before the duplication was made. As to the suggestion that as a last resort the money might bo taken out of revenue, this was obviously impossible. The council had been doing now works out of revenue until the bunk manager had told them that he ■would not allow them to draw any more cheques for this purpose, until the overdraft was squared-up. The council was fully alive to the necessity of undertaking tho duplication of the tramway track. To this end the committee had decided only on Tuesday last that if H could get the money the work, or at least a portion thereof, would be completed before tho end of the year. The deputation withdrew, after thanking tho council for hearing its representations. Recommendations Adopted. Subsequently the Tramways Committee reported that it had received from the Island Bay Ratepayers’ Association a resolutiou urging that tho duplication of the Island Bay track should be given preference over all other tramway work. It was informing the association that tho council and the tramways manager were anxious that tho work should be carried out as soon as possible; and that if tho money could bo obtained, the work of duplicating tho most necessary portion of 4he lino would bo undertaken before the end of the year. Councillor C. H. Chapman supported the recommendation, and suggested that consideration should bo given to the tramway line being carried right over tho hill in Adelaide Road. This, he said, would afford relief from the present overcrowding. The Mayor: Where is the money to come from? Councillor Chapman: I thought you were rather optimistic on the point tonight. Councillor L. M'Kenzio suggested that more minimum faro cars might be provided for the Island Bay line. This would tend to minimise tho overcrowding of cars. The recommendation of the committee was adopted.