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Taranaki Daily News, 3 March 1920, Page 4

f TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS, We hope the New Plymouth Borough Council will not further delay taking n | poll of ratepayers on the proposal to extend the tramways to Westown just because Vogeltown desires to be included In the schedule of extensions. There has been too much delay already. Had the work been proceeded with a few years ago, when the need became evident, the cost would hare been only half «vlmt it is to-day, and every month's delay now means an increase in cost. Maybe in the future there will be a decrease In prices, but there is not the slightest indication of it at present. Rather the reverse. We seem to have arrived at a new set of values that, willy-nilly, we must subm'iit to if we are to move forward. To include Vogeltown in the schedule of extensions will cause considerable delay, for there is a good deal of preliminary work to be done before a poll can be taken. Westown, by reason of it having a much larger population, and having the line already constructed half way to it—a line that at present is earning little or nothing by way of revenue—is entitled to first consideration. Vogeltown's turn is next. It has strong claims, but, obviously, it must tvait until the Westown branch is completed. As was pointed out by the deputation to the Council on Monday evening, 'it is desirable, when considering extensions to Vogeltown, to bear in mind the completion of the loop by going down Avenue Road, thus serving extensive districts that are eminently suitable for close settlement. To prepare plans and estimates for such a loop line will take a long time, and there is nothing to be gained by delaying the Westown scheme until the information is available. The sooner the tram line reaches the top of the hill at Westown the better will it be for all concerned, Vogeltown, it has to bo remembered, will have the electric bus almost to itself as soon as the Westown extension is made, and for that reason, if for no other, should co-operate with its neighboring suburb to secure the extension witbbut further delay. i