TRAMWAYS EXTENSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1916, Page 4

TRAMWAYS EXTENSION.

In his reply to the deputation of Westown residents at last Monday's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Mayor expressed the opinion that the construction of the Morley street section of the trams was a mistake. That may or may not be the case, hut the fact remains that the section lias been constructed and is proving a drag on the rest of the service. The Mayor agrees that unless the line is taken up the hill the section will not pay, but he regards the present as no time to raise money to construct the additional halfmile. It is true money is wanted for a good many other important things in the borough, but that is no reason why the proposition submitted by the Westown deputation should not be considered on its business merits. They adduced figures to show that the loss, could be reduced by £1 12s a day if the extension were made. Even if it were £ 1 a day— £7 a week—it will pay the borough to raise the additional money required All the material, with the exception of the rails, is available, and £7 a we'ek will go a long way towards paying the interest on the extra cost incurred in the purchase of rails at the present time. As for raising the money, that can he done without difficulty. The point is, the section at present is showing a substantial loss., That loss can be reduced by at least £1 a day, after allowing for all charges in connection with the new work, by making the extension. Is it not sound business to construct the half-mile? If it is, then the finding of the money is a secondary matter. If the figures adduced at the meeting are reliable—<ind there is no reason to doubt them—the right thing to do is to make the section profitable as soon as possible and not continue making a loss for fear of expending an additional thousand pounds or two. The "main service, from Fitzroy to the Breakwater, looks like paying in a very short time. It is handicapped now hy the Morley street section, and the handicap can and ought to be removed without delay. The extra liability, after all, would only be nominal.