RAILING THE MAIN SOUTH ROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 212, 6 March 1912, Page 4

RAILING THE MAIN SOUTH ROAD.

Councillor McAllum deserves the thank* of ratepayers for the thorough way in which he is tackling the question of railing the South road. At Monday's meeting of the County Council he submitted a comprehensive report and estimate of the cost of the proposed work, as well as setting forth convincing reasons for putting the traffic on rails instead of wheels. The obtaining of the data must have entailed a vast amount of time and work, and will prove of infinite value to the delegates 'of the different county councils affeoted when they come to consider the proposals, as, we are glad to note, will probably be the outcome of Cr. McAllum's lead. Particulars of the traffic and likely revenue will perhaps be also available when the delegates meet. Cr. McAllum said his idea was to' lay a 2ft. 6in. rail track alongside the metalled road between New Plymouth and Manaia, via Opunake, a distance of approximately 57 miles, and to procure the power at Bell's Falls, on Mount Egmont, by installing an electric generating plant. He-showed that Bell's Falls are practically in the centre of the district—--20 miles from Manaia, 16 frtim Opunake, and 17 from New Plymouth—whilst the head of water is sufficient to generatean effective horse power of 1500, and can be augmented by the building of a damabove the falls. He estimated the cost of the line at £3500 per mile, a sum which seems to us on the large side con- ; sidering the smallness of the proposed guage and the fact that the present road and bridges could bfe utilised. If new' bridges are to be constructed, the road j widened, and the gradients reduced, hia j estimate no doubt will be found within the mark. In any case, this is a matter that experts alone can advise ratepayers upon. But taking the cost at £3soo\j mile, .the total cost of the scheme would ! be in the neighborhood of £210,000, a ! big sum certainly, but not so formidable' 1 When it comes to be divided amongst the' three counties concerned. The interest and sinking fund Cr- McAllum estimates at £10,500 per annum. The Taranaki County's share would amount to £3281.' This might entail the pledging of the land to the extent of 1 13-16 d in the £. Could the ratepayers. stand this? ' Cr. McAllum showed that as things are present ratepayers will be obliged to' raise £45,000 at least to put the road in' order, in which case they would have to' pay a. special rate of l%d in the £ for a period of 36 years, whilst in six years' time they would be "up against" the same problem again. In other words, ratepayers will soon have to decide whether it is worth -while facing an increasing expenditure for the upkeep of the road or shoulder the :heavy initial expenditure involved in putting down a tram line. To our mind there is 'only one conclusion, and that is ratepayers for their own protection will be obliged to seek relief from the great and growing demands with which they are threatened by undertaking a system of tramways, be they driven by electricity, petrol, or steam. A railway along the coast is not within the region of "practical politics/' For improved traction facilities ratepayers must themselves take the initiative and responsibility, and not rely upon the Government or any one else. It is gratifying to notice .that the proposals have so far been favorably received by everyone concerned, and we trust that no time mil be lost by the local bodies affected in procuring expert advice and considering the question in all its bearings.