TRAMS FOR WESTOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1920, Page 4

TRAMS FOR WESTOWN.

RATEPAYERS INTERVIEW. COUNCIL. PRESENT SYSTEM FAVORED, A deputation of about sixteen from the Westown Progressive Association waited on the New Plymouth Borough Council last evening urging the immediate extension of the present tr»mway system to Westown.

Prior to the deputation stating their case, the Mayor informed them 'that there had been no delay, by reason of the Council's; investigations IMO the trackless system, because they had not yet got the ;plang of the proposed work. Mr. Sole said the object of the deputation was to ask the, Council'to give effect to the resolution !»£ the Council carried as far back a»>Oot6ber. ''We feel," he said, «th»t delay* Me dangerous, and ask you 1;o hurry *up proceedings as much a& possible." Mr Sole remarked that they did not intghd to discos the merits or demerits of any particular system, beeause they were of opmiop that there was only one *y». tem, namely the existing tramway syfl' teat, and, .they earnestly anked,the foun. cil to lose no time in allowing-the ratepayers to vote on the question of "tramways extension.

The population of Westown from the top of Barrett Street to Wallace Road terminus (immediately bordering oA the tram route), at a very conversative, estimate, was 1200. The revenue to-day from the 'bus was about £6Q' per month for Westowh alone, which would be £7OO a year, and Mr. Soleassuredthe Council that the 'bus was totally tokdequate for the traffic, f ■ t =

Mr. Sole said that in the short tithe at their disposal petitions had been taken amongst the ratepayers and a large number of signatures had been ohtamed. A public meeting was nfeirimous in the wish that the tfamWays should be extended immediately. Mr. A. L. Humphries said there were from twelve to fifteen hundred people ROing to and from the Hospital per week The Western Park, in. rwpeet of winch an extensive improvement scheme was being prepared, w Melv to he a popular sport? ground, and the , howling green and reserve T would also attract many people. ■* The Mayor, ln,.npintiu£o»Jl that line might be some advantages in the track.less system, stated the Council's posttion would be'realised when it wa« »een that m 1914 a mile of the present ,tram system cost £4OOO, while to-dav th« co« would be £]3,oon. He assured'the Sepi,. tation that tlie Council Was not delaying in order to inquire into the milled'rV* tem but were making these inmijr'its with mw to getting informatics on the subject. In the meantime the other preliminary work was progressing! ,bnt was not yet completeo. ' ! : The General Manaser said the raiijless system was calculated to give a «|tisfactory system at a lower cost'thanj the present traraf. In reply to the Mayor, Mr, Sole said he had no doubt that the ratepayers would carry the loan. , '

THE TRACKLESS SYSTEM. In c repprt- presented' to the Council ast eyenmgby the tranfcayg manajMrbn the alternative routes toT?eatowii; and Vogeltown suggested to be served by the trackless system, it was stated; The trackless trolley system has been designed with the object of obtaining all the advantages of a modern electric tramway system, with the exception ol those represented by use of steel* 'tall* and tyres, etc. Thi*» advantage lv admitted as a very substantial orie, and represents a very large portion of th« capital invested in a tramway undertakmg, consequently it has an equally, important bearing on the financial oltiration of such an undertaking. Tlfo h particularly go'where a tramway is operated m a sparsely populated distrlctlind where the overhead or oapitaj chanret become a burden, on aceonnt of .'thi limited amount of revenue earned. It k tc meet such cases as this that the titokless trolley system his been desiried •the power used for operating the ton is electricity, and is taken from trollei wires erected overhead, in same manner as pur tramways.'■ lii the absence of the rails (which Wtht .tramways aet as one conftictor') a mini* mum of two trolley wires are necessary and likewise two tro% polea on th« trackless vehicles for oolledting tin power from these trolley ■wires. , '■" The report stated thai the quest}* «| wear and tear on roads was an important one, but statements received ■Snm users of the trackless trolley vehlel* indicated that this would be not MorefliM with other mofor vehiolea ot siwilai capacity and speed, and was more lQteh to be less oil account of ; the efeatrii motor drive. - ; > ;.;

In the matter of selecting a Mute there were two suggestions, nafteh Westown (via. Morley JStreet, via Stand • S! H) "iy«P»lto*i> route (vlaltor. ne Street, via Liardet Strfct), an* thi report dealt exhaustively with 'tin merits of each line in regard to tOURc. engineering difficulties, and means ol connecting with existing.transport lyg.