Takapuna Tramways “Left in the Air"

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 1

Takapuna Tramways “Left in the Air "

Is the Option Binding?

Effects of Ferry Purchase

“We do not consider that the Takapuna Borough Council's option is binding. We do not admit that it is even valid,” said Mr. G. E. Alderton, solicitor for the Devonport Ferry Coy, Ltd., to-day in reply to the statement by the Mayor of Takapuna Mr. J. D. Morison) that the option still holds goods. Questioned as to the position of the Takapuna Borough Council concerning the tramlines on its streets, Mr. Aiderton replied: “That is not our funeral!”

“It certainly is a problem for someone,” he admitted. The tramlines, Mr. Alderton pointed out, were excluded from the Devonport Company’s purchase. He claimed that the Borough Council never kept the Takapuna Tramway and Ferry Co., Ltd., to its agreement to keep the track in good order. Consequently, the tracks had been neglected. WEDNESDAY'S SERVICE The Takapuna ferries will change the colour of their funnels on Tuesday. The following day the new service will come into existence. The Devonport Company’s application for sanction to their suggested time-table will come before the Auckland Harbour Board on Tuesday afternoon. In an outline in regard to the new fares, which Mr. A. E. Alison, the Devonport Company’s manager, announced this afternoon, he declared, “Generally speaking, they show a decrease.” In several instances, Mr. Alison suggested, there had been a substantial decrease as against the rates charged by the Takapuna Company. Details of the new charges are published in THE SUN’S issue to-day. For instance, the single fare for a child to Bayswater will be 2d, as against the Takapuna Company’s charge of 3d. The return fare for a child will be 3d as against 6d. The single fare for adults will be sd, as against 6d. The return fare of 9d will remain as at present. Neither Is there any change In the 12 trips weekly ticket, which remains at 3s. The school children’s weekly Is 6d ticket, however, has been reduced to Is. ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS Several concessions which in the past the Devonport Company has been able to give residents will now be available for Takapuna residents. There is, as an example, says Mr. Alison, the weekly apprentices’, from 18 to 21 years, ticket at 2s 3d. This ticket is available for an unlimited number of trips. The same applies to the men’s and women’s tickets which provide for an unlimited number of trips at 3s and 2s 6d respectively. The 11s monthly ticket is also unlimited. For the quarterly, halfyearly and annual tickets the ordinary scale remains in existence. Under the new arrangements a child will be able to travel backwards and forwards from the North Shore, on a family ticket, for approximately 7s 6d annually. There is an increase, however, in the through weekly fare. In future it will be 6s 6d for 12 trips as against the Takapuna Company’s rate of 6s. As arrangements have been made for a 50-trip ticket, the Devonport Company claims that the fare will be reduced to the ordinary price if travellers avail themselves of this concession. Only those under the age of 21 can be included in the new family annual

ticket. Weekly tickets will date from Monday in each week. Monthly tickets will date from the first of each month. NOT guaranteed Although these rates cannot be guaranteed, says the company’s secretary, Mr. Morton, there Is no suggestion that they will be varied. All outstanding tickets issued by the Takapuna Company will be honoured by the Devonport Company. “Although there was no agreement in this connection,” commented Mr. Morton, "it is an act of courtesy on the part of this company.” “The ratepayers are the people who should decide whether they shall purchase the service or not,” said the mayor of Takapuna, speaking at a meeting last night. “That being so, we are going right ahead with the programme already laid down.” After the election, he said, a poll would be taken. Mr. Morison believed that when the people were acquainted with all the facts they would vote in favour of owning the tramway concern. Yesterday’s sale, declares Mr. A. St. Clair Brown (the Takapuna Company’s chairman of directors), is sub

ject to the right of purchase of the Takapuna Borough Council, and if that body decided to exercise that option the sale to the Devonport Company must be cancelled. It remained to be seen, said Mr.. Brown, whether the Devonport Company could solve the problem of effectively handling the peak-load traffic.