THE TRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1920, Page 4

THE TRAMS.

THE WESTOWN EXTENSION. IMPORTANCE OF WORK URGEO| A deputation of 13 ratepayers representing tin- residents of the Westown district waited on the Borough Council last night to urge that the poll for the extension of the tramway service to Westown should be proceeded with im-> mediately. Mr. .). J). Sole, president of the Wes« town Progressive Association, was chief spokesman, and said the deputation Was the outcome/ of a public, meeting held at Westown last Friday njght. Ho pointed out that the town and district district was forging ahead, in spite of the fact tliut the people of the place did not do a hand's turn to help it on. It was going ahead in spite of itself. The best means of helping the town forward; was the provision of a good tram aer-i vice. The present system was a success when it was considered that it did not serve the majority of the residents of the borough. The present Morley street line, which was a dead end,, would 6a made a payable section, and would ttci as a feeder to the principal system and help to make it payable. The residents of the district were grateful for the 'bus service, but they felt it -was totally inadequate to meet the. needs of the district. Mr. Sole said ha had been in thhe 'bus when it had carried as many as 50 passengers, and he pointed out that this was not in the best interests of health nor .the safety of the public. In addition to the 5B pa9sern gers he had seen. 14 others left behind. Althougii the extension might show a direct loss at first for a time, he thought that would be more than counter-JWili anced by the enhanced value of property in the district, which would bring in additional revenue to the borough. On the south of the proposed extension, Mr. Sole pointed out, there were the public Hospital, Westown Park, and the Old People's Home, and the line. would lead to within easy reach of the. Rotokare and Ratapihipih'l Reserves. He pointed out also that there were more* houses in course of erection at Westown than in any other portion of the it had been suggested that by delay-in* the taking of the poll until YogeltoWn, could be included in the schedule would save the council money, but he submitted that the opposite would be the case as prices were continuing to advance. Had the extension been made before there would have been a big saving. He hoped the council woulu do its best to expedite the taking of the poll for the extension of the trams to Westown.

Mr. R. 0. Kllis supported the speaker, comparing the returns of traffic from the 'bus service to Westown with the service to Vogeltown, which were much in favor of Westown. He also stressed the inadequacy of the present means of transport to and from t\t suburb. Mr. 1«\ S. Johns ass.ur.'d the Council and the residents of Vogeltown that there was no intention on the part of Westown to block Vogeltown getting the trams. The two schemes, however, vould not go forward simultaneously, and he said if the Westown extension was authorised the Vogeltown residents could rest assured of the support of Westown when the time came for their trams. In the meantime there was no question but that the trams must be extended first in the direction in which they would be most profitable. Mr. Sole also said that Westown had, every sympathy with the desire of Vog-i cltown to get a tram service, and there' was no feeling of antagonism towards the other suburb. He also said that in regard to the carrying of the right to Wallath Road, one owner of property along the road was prepared to dedicate land for road widening free of cost, another would give it a very low valuation, and others would allow it to be taken under the Public Works Act. Cr. Collis asked if any explanation could be given for the petition at the present time from some residents along Wallath Road, asking to be transferred from the Borough to the County. It looked as though they wanted to get the benefit of the trams without having to pay the. cost. Several members of the deputation said that the agitation had originated with two retired farmers who had quite recently token up their residence in the district. They did not belong to thq Progressive Association, (Laughter). The Mayor expressed the pleasure at seeing the deputation, and assured them that their representations would receive due consideration. There had been some delays in getting ready, for the poll on the proposal through the difficulty of getting the consent of pro■perty owners to the line going along tho side of the road. The Vogeltown repre* sentatives had not been responsible lot, those delays. It was thought, however, that matters would be far enough for« ward in about four weeks to enable , a, poll (o be taken. Mr. Sole, in thanking the Council fo? receiving the deputation, said tha Westown Progressive Association would be willing to give the Council any assifk ance it could in getting the requisite sig% natures. The deputation then withdrew.