SUNDAY TRAM SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1916, Page 4

SUNDAY TRAM SERVICE.

DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL. CARS TO STOP. IN MORNING. The question whether a continuous Sunday tramway service should be run in New Plymouth was diseusied at length at last evening's meeting of tbi Borough Council.

The Council hftd before it a report from the Tramway Committee anent the proposed revised time-table, and the committee had referred the matter ol the Sunday service to the Council fot its consideration.

Ulp to the present the trams har< stopped during the church services in the morning and evening. Or. J. W. Hayden moved—"That a continuous Sunday service be pro* vided." Cr. Watkins seconded.

Speaking to the motion, Cr, Hayden reminded the Council that it had received a petition, signed by 1000 ratepayers, requesting tn%t the continuous service be granted. A counter-petition, signed by 300 people, 'had also been presented. He ' did" not see any- harm arising from the noise of the cars on ■Sunday. It was impossible to hear the trams from the churches, especially as the former slowed down when they passed. Cr. Hayden pointed out that the convenience of the large number of ratepayers represented: by the petition should be considered.

Cr. F. E. Wilson opposed the ipropo sal, and stated that by granting a con tinuous service the Council would bi| working its staff seven days a week, and that a disastrous accident might happen owing to the men not being in a physical condition to attend, to their duties properly. No other town in .New Zealand observed a continuous service, lie said, and, further, the Council «hould show a due regard to the objection of a large proportion of ratepayer*. Cr. W. F. Short said the Sunday service should not be looked at from a business point of view at all, and that it was not advisable 1o introduce a convenience in the fane of objection manifested.

Cr. S. .T. Smith opposed the proposal for a continuous service.

Or. E. Griffiths suggested that the continuous service be run until ' the next municipal election iji ,April, when the question could be put to the ratepayers in the form of a referendum.

Cr. J. S. <5. Medley supported the proposal. He said he would be the last to interfere with the church services, but pointed out that motor-cars and cycles mad« a much greater noise than tramcars, and these were allowed to go unchecked.

Cr. A..JI. Johnstone made a styopg appeal for the preservation of quiet during the church services. The right* of the .minority who desired the tram* to stop should be considered. New Plymouth was essentially a Christian community, and he jvas perfectly certain that many people would: view with grave apprehension any move in the direction of disturbing the -Sabbath. He was of opinion the Council jhould mark in some signal way its appreciation of the fact that Sunday was different from a holiday or any other day. The of developing the Continental Sunday should be avoided The Council did not kpow whether tht public convenience would bc : served by the concession asked for, and it had to be careful, in coming to a decision, that it did not voice tlic opinion that Sunday was not the racred day it once was. The Council had also to be careful, added Cr. Johnstone, not to offend the susceptibilities of many people who did not go to church at a'll. The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) said, in reply to Cr. Medley, that motor-ears and cycles did not belong to the Council. Neither he nor the ohairmau of the Tramway Committee was aware of the petition asking for the continuous Sunday service before it was presented to the Council. He questioned whether the concession was really called for by the majority of ..itepayers. He opposed the propos.il. Cr. Haydcn replied, and said the supply of labor referred to by Cr. Wilson did not affect the .position. Ho pointed out Miat a thousand people had asked for the service and this should be an important factor in weighing the Council in coming to its decision. Tae proposal was pnt and lost on a division being called the voting being: —For the continuous service: Crs. Montcath, Medley, Hayden, Hill, Griffiths, and Watkhre. Against, the proposal: Crs. Wilson, Johnstone, Collia, Short, Smith, Mannix, and thte Mayor

tram scimcE fro:: xook. ; <"r. Monteath moved—'That th» service on Sundays commence at noon, end r.'ii continuously throughout the afternoon and evening." The mover stated that many people had been compelled to walk back from the Hreakwater, owing to the cars stopping at 7 o'clock. These people should be conveyed back to town ljy the trams.

Cr. Mannix seconded, and slid the adoption of this proposal would pleaw both parties. The Council would recoj;iii.ie the Christian spirit, and would servo the convenience of those who desired to spend the afternoon at. the Breakwater.

Cr. Collis regarded Cr. Mannlx'a attitude as inconsistent. He wanted to be a Christian on Sunday morning, and a pagan on Sunday evening. . Cr. Mannix: I did not infer that *4 all, I wish Cr. Collis would withdraw •that remark. \

Cr. Collis: I withdraw it. I used, |t for loss of a better word. Cr. Colli* said he did'not regard the present pro posal as a compromise at all. The Mayor was of opinion that thd Council would have to supply an afternoon and evening service to suit throe who wanted to spend the day at the Breakwater.

The motion that the Sunday service commence at mid-day, and continue for the remainder ot the dffy «'.i« carried by a large majority.