BOROUGH BUS SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1917, Page 4

BOROUGH BUS SERVICE.

FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL LOAN PROPOSAL RESCINDED. At last night's meeting of New Plymouth Borough Council a further discussion took place on the question of the purchase of a motor bus. It was atat l that subsequent to last meeting of the council the following telegram had been sent to Messrs Harris and Co., v.iio had ofl'ered an option over a bus chassis: "Council prepared, subject to poll being carried, to purchase chassis for electric bus. If, however, council decided to purchase now, without taking poll, would chassis be available, and up to what date?" To that the following reply was received from Messrs Harris and Co.; "Napier Council promised option two weeks on two available omnibus chassis arriving; regret can only offer you subject to Napier requiring on# only: otherwise can olfdx you option over additional rfiassis now in New York awtJting steamer space as advised." .. In accordance with notice given, Cr. Hill moved: ''Tliut the resolution parsed by the council on the 20th November, 11)17, authorising a poll to be'faken for a loan for tlie purchase of a motor bus lit rescinded." Cr. Hill sas he thought there wa» ji6 necessity to raise » ; further loan, as tlie council already lifcd #35,000 on loan, and he thought some of that should be available instead of borrowing more money. The Mayor said he did not think 1 money could bo taken from other loam for the purchase of a bus.

Cr. Hill continued t'lmt he thought everyone was agreed that the bus ihould !>n purchased, .*nd that tie expenws of the poll wera not necessary. The motion was seconded by Cr. Short. Cr. Collis opposed the motion. He Raid the council had been constantly turning down ratepayers' proposals on the ground of having no money, and if the bus was to bo purchased without a loan it meant tliat it would be paid for out of overdraft,., which meant out of next year's revenue. If the borough .had no money for necessary works the general fund should not. be depleted for the purchase of a bus. The loan should l'o taken and repayment spread over a | on " period, so that those ratepayers following ohould share the responsibility of its purchase The whole borough would be better off for the bus, and if the loan of £IBOO was carried the bprongh would be thatwnuch better off In connection with its maintenance work next. year. He was as anxious as other councillors for the bu« to be purchased. I Cr. Clarke snid it. was quite a lejsitimatc Jhing to spend money for special Work out of account, and lie favored of the bus out of the general fund, to be pnid for by overdraft. He pointed out that the 'council would have the asset bf the bus and the depreciation woufl he slow. Councillors who lived in town might think the bus not, so necessary, but those who lived in the outside areas felt the need of it very much. He considered there were good grounds for purchasing the bus without the necessity of a poll. Cr. Short said it ' was a, waste of money to take a poll on a question which was practically certain of being carried. He said there were no facilities for the people in' the outlyihg areas for getting into town, and he thought the council should do the thing that would encourage people to live away from the central and congested districts. He thought the council would he quite jiwti. fied in purchasing without the need of a poll.

fr. Browne opposed the motion. He «aid the ratepayers wore the people who should decide whether the money should hp spent, The council was evidently agreed about purChising the bus, but there were difference) as to how the mone}' should be raised.

Cr. Deare said he wag still of the same opinion as previously and favored the straight-out purchase of the bus. His Worship the Mayor said ,he was not opposed to the purchase of the bus. He pointed out, however, that a great amount of work required doing on streets and footpaths, and that the maintenance expenditure wa» increasing, though he thought the borough might be congratulated on the work done. JHe did not favor taking the money for the purchase of a bus out of bank overdraft, as suoh a course would prejudice new work that might require to be done next year. He thought the amount of the proposed loan was small and Would not weigh against the other loans. He considered the ratepayers should say how the money should be raised. If the money was taken out of overdraft the ratepayers would not be so conversant with the result as if the money came out of loan, as in that event,the loss would be made up by a special rate. It must be remembered that the first year's loss on the running of the bus was estimated at £3OO. That amount would pay two surfacemen, who could fie engaged on works on footpaths. When it was known there would be a loss ho thought the ratepayers should tako the responsibility. Economy and sacrifice were being preached everywhere, and tho proposal meant that practically £IOSO would be taken out of overdraft in one lump. The borough was under heavy maintenance expenditure, and his •policy was mainly one of caution. On the motion being put, it was oarnod. the voting being:—Ayes: Cr?. Clarke, Hill, Short, Griffiths and Deare. Noes: Crs. Ilayden, Oollis, Browne, and the Mayor. Cr. Hill then moved that a bus be purchased immediately.—The motion was seconded by Cr. Clarke and carried on the voices. Cr. Clarke moved, and Cr. Griffiths seconded, that the bus be paid for out of the general fund by means of overdraft. —Tim motion was carried. It was then moved by Crs. Clarke and Griffiths: That Messrs Harris and Co. be communicated with by telegraph and asked for the first refusal in the cvnt of the Napier Council failing to purchase one of the buses, and that Mr. Harris be asked to meet the council's representatives and to give an option to purchase up till January 10.' A sub-committee consisting of Cr«. Clarke. Hill, and Browne was set up to confer with Mr. Harris, and given power t>> act. The committee were asked to report to the council as to the ultimate control of the bus when purchased.