NOT NICE-LOOKING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1066, 2 September 1930, Page 10

NOT NICE-LOOKING

TRAM TRACKS MUST STAY ROUGH TRANSPORT BOARD’S PROBLEM "The Transport Board's policy is to live within its income—an old-f ash ioned rule which is not very popular these days,” remarked Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the board, in replying this morning to criticism of the condition of tram tracks in some localities. Mr. Allum was prompted to say | this as a result of a resolution of the City Council last Thursday calling upon the board to effect immediate repairs to the worst portions of the tracks which were in a rough state — described by the council as "dangerous.” “Day by day we have the cry, ‘Make ends meet’,” continued Mr. Allum. “But this can only be done by our living within our income. Well, not long ago we were losing at the rate of £1,500 a week, whereas today, I believe—from what I have heard from Australia —that we are the envy of a good many other cities as far as our transport is concerned. We have only done that by living within our income, and expending as guardedly as possible. I do not say that our tracks are in perfect order —they are not — but they certainly cannot be called dangerous, but simply do not look nice. “We are not going to be stampeded by anyone into making them look nice,” Mr. Allum emphasised. “If any dangerous portions are found, they will of course be attended to. The track looks rough, but it will have to stay rough until we can spend money on it. “Our policy has been to do first things first,” the chairman went on. "That is why the extensions were put in hand. We are doing what a lot of trading concerns are not doing—namely, meeting capital charges out of revenue. The public will agree it was better to get the extensions under way and devote part of our income to capital charges In connection with them, than to spend money on tracks that could wait to be made look nice. I do not want it to be thought that we are neglecting these tracks, because we are spending £30,000 on maintenance this year. When the City Council bought this undertaking from the old tramway company I want to remind you of the state the tracks were in then.” SPEND £IO,OOO MORE It appeared to Mr. E. H. Potter that the board ought to spend another £IO,OOO on maintenance this financial year. It was evident, he said, that it was impossible to overtake repairs at the present rate and it was no advantage to the board to postpone resurfacing. He advocated that tenders be called for repairs; it would cost less, he thought. Mr. G. G. Ashley remarked that Mr. Potter’s description of repairs as “resurfacing” was incorrect. The whole trouble was that the foundations in many places were at fault. "The people will not blame the board for going easy until we see how things are going to pan out,” said Mr. A. J. Entrican. Mr. Allum later hinted that the question was being asked increasingly in transport circles overseas whether the existing old-fashioned requirement that tramway systems should pay for the maintenance of one-third of the highway was fair or just. The board would not complain, however, until some authority forced the issue. The board was not demanding its pound of flesh. Mr. M. J. Coyle: I thought you said you liked old-fashioned ways? Mr. Allum: Some of them. Continuing, the chairman said that at some points the tram tracks were being hammered and flattened by heavy motor traffic. The board would have to approach the Main Highways Board again for a contribution toward track maintenance. On the motion of Mr. L. E. Rhodes, the general question of tracks upkeep was referred to the committee of the whole board with power to act, after an inspection. “Some of the tracks in Mount Albert are in a disgraceful condition,” said Mr. Rhodes. “We could save a great deal of money by putting in a stitch in time.” WATERLOGGED ROAD “One reason for Karangahape Road being in the condition that it is, is the fact that the sub-grade is absolutely waterlogged,” said the engineer, Mr. E. E. de Gurrier. “The only way of overcoming this disability is to reconstruct entirely the foundations and drainage and put in a reinforced concrete raft under the whole area, an operation that will involve a heavy expenditure. This work has been under consideration for some considerable time, but no funds have been available for its prosecution. The total estimated cost from the reservoir to Grafton Bridge is £19,800, the section betw r een the reservoir and Pitt Street being about half this amount. This work also includes rail renewals. “The second reason for disturbance to the track paving is the fact that the carriageways are paved with wood blocks, and these expand and contract under varying atmospheric and temperature conditions, and force the City’s marginal blocks over and incidentally destroy the track marginal paving. It would be distinctly an exaggeration to say that any of this track is dangerous, although it can be conceded that it is rough,” said Mr. de Guerrier. “The inward track between the site of the old Ponsonby depot and the Herne Bay terminus requires reconstruction. This is principally because some time ago the City Council relaid the carriageways in concrete and altered the levels of the roadway, leaving the tramway tracks in some cases higher and in others lower than the carriageways. RICHMOND AVENUE “The reconstruction of the short length of track in Richmond Avenue has been under consideration for some time, but so far no allocation has been made. It is, however, doubtful whether, in view of the early completion of Richmond Road extension, this work should be carried out. The estimated cost, including duplication, is £7,200. Here again the City Council some time 'ago effected repairs to the carriageways which brought the levels higher than those of the tramway tracks. “The amount in this year’s budget for permanent way renewals and repairs is £30,240. Of this amount approximately £13,000 has been expended to the end of August. . At the present time reconditioning is being carried out in Upper Queen Street, which will cost an additional £I,BOO, and the very; important work of re-

newing the rails in Queen Street between Wellesley Street and Customs Street at an estimated cost of £6.200. This leaves £9,240 available for reconditioning work in Jervois Road, Great North Road and Manukau Road, and for general track and paving repairs and also curve renewals. “It will therefore be seen,’* said the engineer, “that the best is being done with the allocation allowed and that nothing is available for the routes complained of.”