Avondale Faces Transport Problem

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 210, 24 November 1927, Page 1

Avondale Faces Transport Problem

CONFERENCE WITH TRAMWAYS MORE THROUGH BUSES WANTED THE position of road transport A serving Avondale wa* the subject of a conference between the chairman of the Tramways Committee, Cr. J. A. C. Allum. the tramways manager. Mr. A. E. Ford, and Messrs. Tait, Morris and Burton, of Avondale, this morning. Mr. Tait said the district realised the difficulties, but it had previous lv rnet with success by conferring with the Railway Department, and hoped that something might result from a conference over road transport. The district’s represen la lives thought thi>. could be improved, and suggested that the council might see its way to run "through” buses until 30.30 «.m. instead of until 9 a.m. only, and again from 2.30 pan. The j»oint of fares was also raised, the difference between the city and Avondale and Avondale and | Blockhouse Bay being stated as an ; example.

Mr. Morris said the district was a loyal supporter of trams, and if they had been in the city a few weeks earlier the loan would have been carried Mr. Burton said the deputation was not in a spirit of criticism, but Up whole progress of the district depended on transport.

Cr. Allum replied that they had lx • n working out what their buses were losing and it was somewhere about £360 weekly, which was too much to face. Even then they were working on what a Royal Commission in Australia had decided was reasonable. This was Is 6d a bus mile, and Auckland was doing it for a little over Is 4d on present figures. Auckland was trying to give transport over an area as great as Glasgow, when it had a sixth of the population. The services wanted were not warranted and could not pay on present fares. The deputation discussed the question of helping to meet the financial obligations, and asked if the trams could carry the passengers now. Mr. Ford said the 50 extra trams were badly wanted, but these and the tram extensions which would save the position. had been turned down. The deputation mentioned that it realised the city had had to lake over

both trams and buses that were in a questionable condition. The Tramways Committee will consider the requests made.