The Daily News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10. ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 235, 10 November 1909, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10. ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

That, the time is last approaching when the obsolete 'bus services in New Plymouth will be superseded by modern electric traction there are few who doubt. Precisely when our civic leaders may consider the time opportune to give the general body of burgesses a lead on the question is not so certain, but it is evident that they recognise that in the march of municipalities New Plymouth must eventually fall in line, or drop out of the race lor .population. All the natural attractions —scenic and climatic —of the town will not aull'ice in coni- | petition with municipalities provided Willi up-to-date public utility services to I attract the numerous class ot people lon the look-out tor a desirable locality

wherein to settle. As we stated earlier, there are indications that the Borough Council rccoyitises the tact, Unit sooner or later elecinc tramways will have to Ue provided, and t-hey have wisely begun their preparations ill time. At present these take the form of the widening ol the roadway in JJevon Street by lessening the wiilth of tne lootpatns, which are wider by about two feet than ttiosc proviuul in most of the cities. From iioDaoii Micei to the llenui bridge the widening was completed recently when it.became accessary to lay permanent water channels. U e now observe the continuation of that policy nearer the centre of the town, the verandah posts fronting the new premises being erected by ill'. McNeill having been set about two feet in from the kerbing. \\ e can

only take it that it is the intention of Life" Council at no distant date to pro-ii-cd willi their scheme throughout the iciwih of Devon Street, for it would be ridiculous to .suppose that permanent obstructions to the free passage of pedestrian trall'ic would be permitted lor long to obtain. We are entirely in accord with the Council in its street widening policy, for however much it might, be regretted that Hie spacious footways cannot be retained, the exigencies of vehicular trall'ic are of paramount importance. The four feet additional wi<lih of roadway that will be provided under the scheme is a very con sulerabli' iieui. and a necessary one before tramlines could be added to the existing congested trall'ic in Devon .Street. As to the conditions warranting the consideration of a tramway scheme, we are convinced they exist. The experience of U'anganui has shown that the t-api!,ii c€>*l of a tramway scheme in i.owns of irns pretensions than the four eilies need not become a charge upon ihe rates. Wanganui. despite its somewhat larger population, is not more advantageously situated than New Plymouth in reaped to its suburban settlement, which constitutes the permanent revenue ehamicl of the trams. .New Plymouth would have, however, a great advantage over all existing iramwav .<ysteiU"S with (.lie exception of Dunedin. m the mailer of cheap power. This advantage is an exceedingly important one iciidcring sucn tramways mdepentejit ol coiil Mippue-, the precarious naiiire ot wiimi 'ieeonimg yearly more .ippii'im o.i < ouni oi moor irouinc*. .l ilie p:oM'iii. 11iuc, when the Council iia> .»«■ i i.j; ;i emiiiniUee to go into tm .juesjoji oi eiei trie light extellsiou —ou :i eowju oi tm- gn;u demand on Uie ligut ißvcssiuUiiig greaily increased general-1 .iig power—it nughi be advisable to exM,eml the functions of the committee to include investigation of the tramway question, particularly in the direction ot submitting some delinile data as to the amount of power likely to be available I from the projected extension of the I generating station. There is a fairly unanimous feeling amongst the business community—whose stake in the lowa is very considerable—that the time is ripe to give this question more serious consideration than it has received in 'the past. That is also our opinion, as it is that there should be no more tinkering with the generating station. It will be infinitely cheaper in the Jong run that the extensions now necessitated should be on a scale that will preclude the necessity of again going to the ratepayers in two or three years time. We hope, therefore, that nothing will be attempted short of utilising the maximum power available iu the Waiwakaiho river, and completing, at one operation, a work that must iu any case he ultimately carried out, but at a sacrifice in convenience and cost.