CITY TRAMWAY POLICY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 1

CITY TRAMWAY POLICY

MAKIMG UP FOR PAST MISTAKES OBJECTS OF HAI.F-WIII.IOW LOAN IF the City Council's half-million pound tramway loan is rejected on August 17, one effect will be that 150 men, at present working on the tracks, will lose their jobs. The funds available for work on the tram tracks are running low and 39 men have been given notice this week.

THE Tramway Committee, which is' sponsoring the loan proposals, does not hold the unemployment possibility as a threat against the rejection of the loan. It is confident that the loan proposals can stand on their own merits. But Cr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Tramway Committee, who made a statement to THE SUN this morning, mentioned it as one aspect of the case. He said that the loan would permit the entire civic transpS’t system to be placed on a paying basis. It had to be remembered that the trams themselves had not yet failed to pay their way. It was the huge losses on bus purchases that had created the deficits In recent years. Better Service Without the money furnished by the loan, the service would need to carry on without essential new plant, and outlying residential areas could not be served. More accommodation, in a better position in relation to the bus routes, was wanted for the buses, as well as facilities for keeping them in repair. They recognised that the buses had their uses, and that they would still have to be run to certain outlying districts, such as Henderson. Having acquired a monopoly of the transport system, the city was morally bound to maintain these services, even though not legally compelled to do so. The same principles applied to the

proposed extensions of the tram lines. Under the terms of its monopoly the J council was responsible for the ' transport facilities of those people previously served, efficiently or other- ; wise, by bus services. At present a number of districts were tapped by buses feeding the tramway system, as at Edendale. These bus services were costing more, declared Cr. Allum, than would trams on the same routes, particularly as many people, having left the tram, preferred to walk home instead of riding in the bus. Diverted Loan Money Asked if it was correct that provision had been made in an earlier loan for the Point Chevalier and Remuera extensions, Mr. Allum said that was so. A previous committee had diverted the money, some £50,000, toward the purchase of buses, at a time when, bus competition was seriously affecting the tramway revenue. He agreed that the side-tracking of those proposals, after they had been authorised by the ratepayers, was open to criticism. It might have been a mistake, that was not for him to say. Furtner, there might have been many errors committed, in all good faith in the past, but they were beyond recall now, and all they could do was to make the best of the situation, and try to improve matters. The council had to fulfil the trust granted it when the transport monopoly was conceded. At present they were making a detailed investigation of the various phases of the service, and he intended to present the promised tramway report at the council meeting on Thursday, August 4. Traffic on every section of the tramway system, on an ordinary week-day, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was recently recorded.. “Already we hare compiled 40,000 different sets of figures,” said Cr. Allum, “and our investigations will show liow, and where, alterations can be made In fares, sections and general arrangements.”