Ratepayers to be Asked to Ratify Their Promises

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 570, 24 January 1929, Page 6

Ratepayers to be Asked to Ratify Their Promises

CITY TRAM LOANS

“ * N assurance was given, particularly by the suburban A residents, that if they were given a Transport Board, the necessary money for extensions would be granted. Our job non- is to cut our loan requirements down as low as possible, and put them to the ratepayers.”

npHJS statement was made by Mr. j "*■ M. J. Coyle last evening, when i the Transport Board was continuing its discussion of policy and extensions. The board was meeting in committee, furthering its discussion on policy questions and proposed extensions. In connection with the Remuera extension, estimated to cost £24,500, members of the board expressed the opinion that when the waterfront road was opened the present bus service to the area would decrease, even if it was not withdrawn. Mr. E. J. Phelan pointed out that he had asked for a report on the possibility of trackless trams along the waterfront, and he thought a service to the area along the waterfront, such as Hobson Bay, would have to receive considerable thought. The board decided to recommend the extension, also the Mount Eden extensions estimated to cost £14,860, Dominion Road £39,250, and Edendale Road £14,700. CITY RELIEF LOOP With regard to the Quay Street loop, estimated to cost £11,700, and which would enable cars to proceed round a. block via Quay Street, Albert Street and Customs Street back into Queen Street, Mr. Potter suggested that the board should take immediate action to try and reserve as much of the old dock site at the foot of Albert Street. Me did not suggest that the area should be kept as a reserve, but that it should be kept open for traffic purposes. The chairman and Mr. G. Baildon were appointed to make Inquiries about this suggestion, and the proposal was deferred. The proposed loop for the new railway station, estimated to cost £B,OOO, and a parking loop in Stanley Street to cater for Carlaw Park, and to leave the main line open, estimated to cost £2,500, were approved. Concerning Onehunga duplication from the Post Office to the harbour bridge, estimated to cost £2,650, the chairman said there was some suggestion that tram-cars should stop at Onehungii Post Office, and if this was adopted ( it would be unnecessary to carry out the duplication. NEW PROPOSAL A new- proposal to the city, even if it was once contemplated by the old Tramway Company, was the extension to Richmond Road aud West End extension, at a cost of £62,00(1. The manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, stated that the extension would serve a thickly-populated area, and would pay Immediately, as well as releasing five buses. Consideration was deferred pending a visit of inspection. DEPARTMENT V. CONTRACT Permanent way plant costing £13,000, and buildings and extra workshops costing £24,900, saw Mr. Potter raise an objection to doing all work in the department and leaving nothing to contract. Asked to explain, Mr. Ford said the system was losing efficiency because of lack of equipment. There was too much band-work and not sufficient machine. It was not proposed that the department should build all the new tramcars, but he thought it should build some. Such action had advantages, one being that it kept the contract prices to what they should be. At present the rolling-stock was not receiving the attention it should, considering the work it was being asked to do. In reply to a question, Mr. Ford said the department turned out the last car at a lower price than the last contract, but the same shop charges were not put on as would be In a contractor’s shop. He pointed out that in recent years only two firms in New Zealand tendered to build car bodies. It was generally agreed that the board desired that most of its work suitable: to contract should be subject to tenders, and that any tramcars constructed by the department would be a very small proportion of the whole. The next proposal was that 50 new trams should be ordered at a cost of £152,000. Mr. Potter: I am of opinion that we should order 12 tramcars immediately. "You won’t misunderstand me -when 1 ask where the money is coming from,” said Mr. Allum. Mr. .Potter: Surely we can finance some trams out of an income of £700,000. Mr. Allum: 1 can't see that w r e can afford a single car. Mr. Potter suggested that the cutting of the bus losses by giving the western routes to private enterprise would enable the purchase of new trams. Mr, A. J. Eutrican remarked that it there was any surplus it should go to the repair of tram tracks. The proposal was adopted. NEW BUSES The suggestion that £40,000 should be raised for new buses led Mr. L. A. Rhodes to remark that these might well be left alone until the public had more confidence in them. Mr. Potter moved that the number of 20 buses be reduced to 10. A discussion arose on the subject

of private enterprise. The chairman said he believed the board was going to be called upon to serve one or two important areas. It "would be as well to have the financial provision so that the board would be in a position to give service if it was called upon to do so. Pounds, shillings and pence were not always the final considerations. Mr. Phelan: Sometimes the stronger must help the weaker. Without reflecting on the staff, Mr. Morton suggested obtaining more expert information on buses. Mr. M. J. Coyle: At the present time we have about 50,000 experts in the city to call on. Continuing, he said one of the great difficulties always had been the shortage of rolling stock. There was no need for the board to buy the buses if they were not wanted, or until they were wanted. Mr. Potter’s opinion was that only the leaving of hopelessly thinly-popu-lated areas to private enterprise would prevent the private owners from taking up services. The 20 new buses proposal was approved. AVONDALE TRAMS The proposal to extend the Mount Albert tramway to Avondale at a cost of £58,400 was supported by a deputation representing some 1,100 Avondale ratepayers. Mr. W. J. Tait was the principal speaker, and he- expressed a pessimistic opinion of the train possibilities. He pointed out that Avondale had 6,000 inhabitants now, and there was a thickly-popu-, lated area en route. People would not use a fixed station even if the trains were available, and Avondale, in any ease, had been living on a promise of railways for years, asserted another member. The chairman, Mr. Allum, told the deputation that lie had been instructed to telegraph the Prime Minister to inquire into the possibilities of the Morningside tunnel. The deputation asserted strongly that it preferred trams to buses, and pointed out the possibilities of Avondale racecourse being used for sports and athletics. After the retirement of the deputation the board decided to visit the area before coming to a decision. RELIEVING QUEEN STREET The manager was asked to report on the use of Albert Street as a route. Mr. Ford pointed out that Albert Street provided the only possible relief to Queen Street, and was sufficiently near Queen Street to allow of its use. The board decided to visit Avondale and other areas next Wednesday.