TRAMS OR MOTOR-BUSES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 220, 5 February 1913, Page 7

TRAMS OR MOTOR-BUSES.

Mr. .Tamps McLood '.rites under Mon day's date:—

| Pleased to notice my 'cheap" criticism ; merited editorial nolie;' this morning, ; and I might add that the somewhat S "cheap" reply that my •'criticism loses, ! whatever force it wight possess, because I am astray in my facts." is no argument. when you fail to show that my facts are astray. I challenged your consistency. and stated your attitude towards this question for some years has heen consistently in favor of trams until a week or two ago. lam prepared to prove my statement, and that from the files of the News. However, you now admit that you have heen in favor of trams; that, indeed, you have fought for them. Well, do you class a motor •bus as a tram? Admitting you argument that you are quite justified in changing your views, "for the reason that within less than a year very great improvements have been effected in the motor "bus."' you have no doubt some information of these improvements that make the new "bus so superior to the dozens of failures most of us know something about. That being so, it will be pertinent to the question to ask that you state wherein these improvements lie. Admitted that motor 'buses are niiming successfully in Mornington and Hastings (or. I should say, have been for a few weeks). I can also quote instances within my knowledge where motor 'buses were running successfully for a time in different; New Zealand towns: but they are on the scrap-heap now. The motoj'lnises running in the above-mentioned places have not stood the test of time, and are consequently experimental. Their conditions, in any case, are not analagous to ours. They are not catering for a system that requires a stopping place at every corner. The Hastings system is to a greater extent than ours could ever be, a comparatively long-run route. Mornington is a system working in conjunction with the trams, and as a feeder thereto. While you quote Timaru as an advocate of motor 'buses, >ou do not sfcde the fact that Timaru regards the motor 'bus as but a stopgap until the town can instal the electric car system. Timaru is not in the fortunate position of Xew Plymouth of already having sufficient power for a tram system, ami purposely decided to wait, until—three or four years hence—the borough will be able to draw electric current from the Government's, Lake Coleridge scheme. Had that power been available it is doubtful if motor 'buses would have been considered at all. but the Council, having decided that some system was necessary immediately, adopted the one that best suited the temporary requirements. Mr. Pdack's electric system has not been thrown out; it, has been postponed till a more suitable time. It should not be forgotten, either, that Timaru ratepayers have not yet declared their approval of motor 'buses, which are still agitating the meetings of the Council, who now find that they may have to wait till they get special Parliamentary authority before they ean instal the system. The necessary street improvements are evidently going to cost a tidy sum in Timaru, as it is now proposed to raise a loan of £4OOO to buy a quarry. I notice that Cr. Sonter," of the Timaru Borough Council, who has recently been through the North Island, and inspected tramway and motor 'bus systems, interviewed on his return, said that he was now in favor of the motor 'bus, under the circumstances, for a fewyears in Timaru, after which they would come in as feeders for the trams." Speaking of the Hastings bus. he admitted that it was so far suiting the requirements there, but he continued: 'Don't forget, nothing can heat the electric trams, though I think 'buses will suit Timaru in the meantime."' In Napier he saw the chairman of the committee set up to consider the Napier transit question, and that gentleman informed him that the Napier people were strongly in favor of trams, and the only people against them were a few wrangling councillors. The Wanganui system of trams Jlr. Souter considered a great success, and he was informed by business people there that they would now retain the trams if it cost them C2OOO a year. The position I desire to make clear is that Timaru has not discarded the tram proposals in favor of motor 'buses, but that the Council proposes to ask the latepayers to give authority to instal motor 'buses immediately, as no cheap .power is yet available for a tramwav system. The Timaru newspapers admit that New Plymouth is in an altogether different position, having the motive power available at the moment. To revert to the question of 'bus installation here, it is, I think, admitted that a great deal more expenditure will be necessary on the roads than would otherwise be required to make them perfect, for motor traffic. I am informed that .Uio.OOO to .£30.(1011 is a reasonable estimate for making the Ureakwater-Wai-wakaiho road suitable for continuous motor traffic. Granted that this is done, is it not more likely that we should have the competition a correspondent speaks of than against the trams, which will not necessitate one-half the expenditure on the road. Tile Council would have to fix fares (or rates) at. a price to cover extra cost of the road and depreciation. Lut private enterprise would be concerned with the cost, and upkeep of its "buses alo'le. and. if d.-ircd. eouid quickly run the municipal enterprise off the road. Not so with the trams, for | the Council is under no obligation, oils there any necessity (o Imild in Xew Plymouth live miles of road equal to Queen street. Auckland, to suit motor trallie. although no doubt it would suit a favored few owners of motor ears that (lie town should burden itself to prolong the life of their cars. As T stated at the outset, it is only fair (o ask. that as you are championing the cans., ot tin' motor 'hus. you should give si"''ii,e d'• t;;il s „f alleged recent improvements. jjs superiority to the elect i'ic ear. and its compara t ive cost over

;> reasonable period. If ji is .rood enough ll'lld lip a Wcl!-col|s|i|f red proposal 1 !••••<" vilally i'<mccrn.< even- one of us. j(; i- .-liri'ly reasonable In evpecl (hat you can justify your ad ion on more solid grounds ! I); i n to n vcr iliai "there is no • •nmii.-inM.il !»<•( jvimmi iii' 1 Ist I«• Ww Plymouth Miolor 'bus and the modern oil"." 'Hill (lirii (o ;i<li!iii (III!I yon have nil rxperl knowledge ot the modern motor ear. and that yon have no( ever seen "He. In conclusion. 1 would jnsf, like to add thai f have (lie evidence of ninny •people who ]] a ve recently liail experience ot the "modiTn" nioior Miin. and later on (ire (hem o|]'. as a scl<dl to till' three motor Mms advocates vim nieiitiiiii, bn( I have for (lie present t lar on your valuable -.pace. The pursuit of an acrimonious correspondence respecting the "intelligence" of those members of the community who distinctly disagree with Mr. liewley in liis advocacy of motor-lnii-scs as !ics( suited to the requirements of this town is not likely to be elevating to its participants. entertaining ' ; voiir rw.li.N, or pertinent to tile points al issue. T agree with Mr. Bewley that (he (hree simple issues on which lie defiires an expression of my opinion (whatever lliat may be worth), are eminently practical. I have pleasure in accepting what you describe as a challenge, and hope to show a.s time permits, that if nothing more .■Pni'•!<r : t";' !o (he prospects of tramwavs can be advanced, then the scheme should have (he unanimous endorsement of (lie ratepayers on the Mb March next.