The Daily News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6. NEW ERA FOR ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 6 November 1907, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6. NEW ERA FOR ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

The latest inventions of America's scientilic genius luwe been in tin; direction ol improvements in storage of electricity as applied for motor purposes. Hitherto there have existed serious drawbacks to the adoption of stored electricity for use in driving motors, and it was only d( natural to expect that Mr. Edison would lr sooner or later overcome the defects—a l'l task which has now been accomplished. }'< \ot only can motor conveyances be now in equipped with ample power, but the w working parts of the batteries have been a made more perfect, more durable, and si the plates protected from corrosion. I This means a new era as regards traffic " in cities and large towns possessing im- . 6 i portant suburbs. It is anticipated that si ere many years have elapsed the use of p horses in populous centres will be almost 1 a thing of the past. The objections to h the motor 'buses which have hitherto been working were mainly those arising ( from the unpleasantness caused by the use of oil or steam as motive powers, : added to which was the wear and tear , connected with the strain of starting. The use of stored electricity has naturally been restricted in the past, but. now that this power has been made available by recent inventions it should produce a marked effect on city and suburban life. A short while before meeting with his fatal accident, the late Councillor Pikett propounded to the Borough Council a scheme for establishing a tramway service between the town and Fitzroy on the one side and the Breakwater on the other. It is probable that, had not the career of that active councillor beeu suddenly cut off, he would have proved to the satisfaction of the Council that the project was at least worthy of serious consideration; but it may be fairly assumed that before committing themselves to the adoption of a tramway scheme our City Fathers would have weighed well the pros and cons, incident to such an undertaking —especially the large expense involved in the construction of the line itself. Whatever charges may in the past have been levelled against the municipal administrators of I Xew Plymouth, that of being unduly eager to be up-to-date cannot be counted amongst the number. Within the last few years there has been marked progress—sure if slow —but there is still much leeway to be made up before the town takes its proper position as compared with others of similar dimensions in the Dominion. The mere spending of the ratepayers' money is not progress, nor is it fair to blame the responsible authorities for exercising the greatest caution over the introduction of innovations entailing considerable monetary outlay. At the same time it is incumbent on the representatives of the citizens to keep abreast of the times and take advantage of every possible means for advancing the welfare and best interests of their constituents. Experience in the large centres has proved that municipal ownership of tramways is not only wise policy, but also economically advantageous to the ratepayers. It can scarcely lx! urged that any reasonable grounds exist at present for the institution of trams in New Plymouth. The time is hardly ripe for sucil an expensive means of transit here, though the need for cheap and rapid communication with the suburbs is daily becoming more evident.-It would be unwise to allow any syndicate or firm to obtain the right to lay down a tram--1 line as a commercial venture and work 5 it as a monopoly for a period of years for their own benefit and not that of the citizens. It is therefore fortunate that a way out of the difficulty now presents itselt" through the perfecting of electric storage power for motor 'buses. The borough possesses the necessary electrical plant for chargng the batteries at little, if any, expense. Practically the initial outlay in the purchase of the 'buses would* be all that need be provided. The electrical staff could doubtless keep the machinery in order without being unduly pressed. No difficulty need be anticipated in obtaining satisfactory drivers, and there is every prospect of the service proving remunerative. Certainly it would be a noon to the public and a credit to the town. All those who desire to see the town progress—and who does not?—must admit that we are behind the times in the matter of locomotion both as regards railway and road facilities. The former is beyond the control of the municipal authorities except in the matter of bringing pressure to bear on the Department. ( Mot so the latter. The matter is one that may well engage the attention of the Borough Council, who will be only taking a wise course in making all due inquiries, not perfunctorily, but with the worthy object of securing for (*eater New Plymouth an up-to-date means of transit between the town and the suburbs. A more promising opening for making a progressive move can hardly be conceived. Apparently there is a combination of circumstances existing here which, under the present favorable conditions, lend themselves to the success of a motor 'bus service. No harm can be done in obtaining the necessary details requisite for considering the financial part of the question, ajii it is only right to assume that the members of the Council possess sufficient public spirit to take advantage of such an opportunity of advancing the town as now presents itself. j " I