The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1915. THE NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 15 January 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1915. THE NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAYS.

The discussion which took place at the Works Committee meeting of the jloroiiyb Council on Wednesday night to a certain extent cleared the ground, but the decision arrived at on the main features of the scheme cannot be regarded as the last word on the subject, for reasons thai will doubtless be mini-

fest to t!ic ratepayers. The outstand- I ing feature of the debate on tile financial aspect of the question was the evidence that tlie majority of the Councillors, as well as tl'« Mayor, seemed to have been obsessed with the 'lO per cent, solution of meeting the admitted shortage of loan money. No doubt the temptation to Follow the line of least resistance is always strong, but whether it in politic is quite I another question. The only valuable

contribution to a very protracted discussion was that made by Cr_ Kibby,' who is both practical and thorough. His motion to ask the ratepayers' sanction to a further loan of £IO,OOO for the purpose of extending the tram service to the top of Morley street, and to provide a safe margain for contingencies, did not receive the, consideration it merited. We venture to assert that if each Councillor who opposed the proposal were called upon to state definitely the reason or reasons for lus adverse vote, lie would be hard put to it to find either a valid or a logical answer. Cr. Collis was prepared to advocate a loan of £7500, so that in principle lie was in

accord with Cr. Kibby, but as the amount would have left the Council with exactly the same margin for contingencies as would be provided by the proceeds of the 10 per cent, on the loan money, it did not mend matters except in one way, namely, that a further loan could have, been raised if sanctioned by the ratepayers. Cr. Johnstone contended that the present was the very worst time to borrow money. Had he only given the matter a moment's consideration, lie nVust have seen that. £5500, representing the 10 per cent, which it was proposed to raise, must be borrowed, and that it would be just as easy to obtain the £IO,OOO as the smaller sum. The

one point that really matters is whether the sum of £2OOO will suffice for all contingencies that may arise. On this point the Council rightly sought the advice of its consulting engineer. This expert wis naturally guarded in his assurances en the point, hut he certainly intimated that he thought the Council might fairly safely proceed. At the same time lie could give no guarantee, and in face of the present unsettled state of industrial affairs it would seem only prudent to provide' a larger amount for contingencies than would be usual under normal circumstances. One probable disturbing factor was mentioned —the swampy ground in the Devon street hollow. Although the consulting engineer did not anticipate that the same trouble would

be met with there as was the ease in Queen street, Auckland, there is still a probability that additional expenditure of an unknown amount may have to be met. Yet the Council lias elected to run against a dead-end. By raising the 10 per cent, it has erected a barrier against obtaining further money for the work if needed, as it may well be. On a previous occasion the same fatal mistake was made, but after some trouble an Act of Parliament was with no little difficulty obtained to remedy the defect, yet the Council refuses to profit by past experience and avoid the pitfall, for it is unlikely that Parliament will again come to the rescue. As we have said, the question was settled without due consideration being given to the many important issues raised. There was, and is, no need for precipitancy. The only matter upon which the Council was unanimous was that the scheme as originally sanctioned should not be curtailed. That may be regarded as settled, but Councillors will be well advised to again review the other matters alluded to above.