WESTOWN TRAM EXTENSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1919, Page 5

WESTOWN TRAM EXTENSION.

DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL. TO BE SUBMITTED TO RATEPAYERS. A lengthy report was submitted to the New Plymouth Borough Council last night by the electrical and tramways engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) 011 the question of the extension of the tramways to Westown, or, in the alternative, an improved 'bus service. The costs set out in the engineer's report were summarised by the town clerk as follows: — MORLEY STREET TO WALLATH . ROAD (1.7 MILES). Additional capital cost of tram extension to Wallath Road £21,828; capital and overhead charges on extension (annual) £2425; working expenses extension £352 3s lOd; estimated revenue from extension £600; extra revenue Morley Street section due to extension £407; estimated total revenue £1007; estimated annual loss £l7lO 3b lOd.

MORLEY STREET TO DAVID STREET (ONE MILE). Capital cost £12,840; estimated annual' loss £948 3s lOd. Effect of extensions on whole system, if extended to Wallath Road; Estimated hiss year ending March 31, .1920, £22B# 16s 2d; estimated loss if extension made to Wallath Road (annual) £4000; estimated loss is extension made to David Street only (annual) £3238. IMPROVED ELECTRIC BUS SERVICE (WESTOWN ONLY). Capital cost (including present vehicles) £750; capital and overhead charges (annual) £1452 10s 9d; working expenses, etc. (annual) £1772; maintenance of road (annual) £301; estimated revenue £1400; estimated annual lom £2215 10s Od. IMPROVED ELECTRIC BUS SERVICE (ON PRESENT ROUTES). Capital cost (including present vehicle) £13,000; estimated overhead charges £2730; working expenses £2844; estimated revenue £2300; estimated annual loss £3274. Note: To the above estimated annual loss may be added the extra cost of maintaining Tukapa Road, Carrington Road, and Frankley Road, etc. Cr. Hayden said he was in favor of making the extension to Wallath Road. He thought there was a larger view than merely the estimated cost of the tramways, and that was the improved valuation of the properties at Westown when the trams were taken up there. He said also there would be an increased revenue j on the main lines as the result of the | extension.

The Mayor said it was a question as to whether the Borough should pay £14,000 per mile now as against the estimate of .CuOQO pre-war cost. Cr. Hill asked how the council could get the work done any cheaper. Cr. Short said- there was not much prospect of the cost of materials coming down for four or five years, and, in view of the fact that other systems were going in for extensions, he did not think New Plymouth should wait for reductions. The improved valuations of Westown property would be a help to the revenue. He was in favor of going on with the trams, but he would like to see the extension considered in connection with the extension to Vogeltown at the same time The Mayor pointed out that would probably mean applying for a loan of perhaps £42,000, apd he did not tliinlc the council should' take authority to raise money now that would not be required for several years. Cr. Short said he thought if the matter of the Vogeltown extension was deferred to some other, time it would really be a very long time before the trams were carried up there. The Mayor suggested there was not the same demand for trams to Vogeltown as to Westown. Cr. Short admitted that was so at present, but it was only a matter of time when there would be the demand. If the money was not wanted now, the extension shot# be considered at the same time as the other route.

TRAMS' OR STREETS. The Mayor, said that conditions in four or five years might be very different. He also referred to the loans which would be falling due in a few years, and to the fact that a further loan of about £20,000 would be needed for streets work. He di(i not think anything should be put on a loan proposal that was not going to be spent for an indefinite period, as it might result in the whole proposal being turned down. * Cr. Short said he did not propose delaying the Vogeltown extension for four or five years. He thought that by the time the Westown extension was completed it would not be long before the trams were wanted at Vogeltown. Cr, Hayden said he did not think th» capital cost of construction would be much leas in the future than the present estimates. What New Plymouth wanted was population, and the extension of the tramway system would help that as much as anything. Cr. Clarke said the council might have to consider the question of charging more for its goods and increasing the fares on the trams. In reply to a question by Cr. Hill, the engineer said he thought the Westown line might be operating within nine months. Replying to Cr. Parkin, Mr. Bartlev said his proposal was to carry the line along the side of the roadway. Cn Hayden then moved that steps be taken to put before the ratepayers the raising of a loan for carrying the trams to Wallath Road. Cr. Parkin seconded the motion,' agreeing that it was no use waiting in the hope of prices coming down.

| WANTS OF VOGELTOWN. Cr. Griffiths said he did not wish to oppose the extension of the trams to Westown, but thought that in any loan proposals provision should be made to borrow enough for the extension of the trams to Vogeltown. | Cr. Hill supported the motion. New Plymouth was progressing, and the trams were the best assistance to its development. Cr. Clarke said the cost was a bit of a shock at first, but it was really not so bad when fully considered. He pointed out that iu 1918 there was a loss of £ 1122, and last year £836, and he estimated, on the same ratio, the cash loss by 1922 would be about £7lO. That was if the growth of New Plymouth went on at the same rate as at present, though he thought the progress would be more marked year by year. He put, also, against the cost of the trains the great convenience of the system, and said, in that light, there was not MffloUat

flcfttion for the council delaying ptttting the matter to the ratepayers. Ha thought the Vogeltown question WOttld ' have to be dealt with separately, Mjjjo •' route had been decided upon foiftnat •' district. THE ONE-MAN SYSTEM. Cr. Collis said that if' the tram Wai< ' taken up on the side of Elliot Road thtra' would, he thought, be a good deal of expense in the matter of the dedication! of land, as the road was not very wide,] and, if that was the case, the chalsp' should be against the tramway construction. The Mayor remarked that he thought | the landowners concerned should dedlotte the land to the borough. If the tram were j)ut up there they would gfet all the benefits and pay nothing. €r. Clarke raised the question Of the difference in the cost of the extension. , if the one-man system wag adopted. The engineer said there would be a 'V 1 big difference. The Westown aectkm ffluk ' essentially a one-man service. Its Adaption would reduce the cost of runnJti& labor, maintenance, and unifdnna, Ha stated he had communications fnat the Invercargill engineer, who had just ft-i turned from America, and fia WM- ofi opinion that the one-man ayatent wmhl operate satisfactorily in Invercargill.. Cr Clark* said he had found out in Wellington that everyone in Dim department, from the under-secretaiy"to| the office boy, was in faror of the ate-, man system, and yet the Minister, for.' some reason, would not gifa his consttt. He was satisfied the Minister woVldi Vever give hie consent, and he thoujfht* the council would have to go over to' the system and get the permisßion-aftte* < ' wards.

' The motion was carried unanimously. more cars wanted. Cr. Parkin then moved thatprovillcn be made in the loan for securing ts < extra car for the service, as he 'Mill satisfied the present cars would not cflpa ' with the traffic at rush times. The Mayor suggested that the enginiir > should be asked to report on the wrtfiri of car accommodation. A Mr. Hartley said if the one-man iyfctint was adopted they would want mora than I one extra car of a smaller and diffcrant pattern. I The Mayor's suggestion was adopted. | _ Cr. Griffiths then moved that the m- | gmeer be instructed to expedite his report on the extension of tha trami to Vogaltown, and that simultaaeouly 1 with the vote on the Westown exttntion a vote on the Vogeltown exteniion < should be taken, the money to b» ex-i pended when the time was opportue.' He urged that if such a proposal were 4 put before the ratepayers there would! be. more chance of the loan being ear- ■ rjed, as the suburban people would plump for it, whereas •if Vojgeltown was omitted it might mean the IoM of the whole proposals. Cr. Short seconded the motion. A discussion then took place on tiie Vogeltown' route, most of the Councillors being of the opinion that it WM impossible for the engineer to form estimates of the cost of the work until the route was necided upon. . Cr. Griffiths ultimately withdrew hl» motion, and it was agreed that a ootnmittee of the whole Council should confer with the engineer as to the wute., for a pcrvice to Vogeltown. 7 Cr. Griffiths then moved that when the route had Ibeen decided upon, the engineer should report on the cost ofthe extensions to Vogeltown, and the estimate annual revenue and expenditure. The motion was seconded and carried