THE TRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1922, Page 5

THE TRAMS.

EXTENSION TO WESTOWN. A POLL TO BE TAKEN. VOGELTOWNS VIEW RESENTED. The proposed extension of the trains to Westown was again considered at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) moved, in accordance with notice of motion, that a poll of the ratepayers be taken to raise a loan of £19,000, principally for the extension of the tramways from Morley Street to David Street, and such other extensions as the council saw fit. Tihe Mayor stated that the second clause was put in because some had thought that the estimates were on the liberal side, but as they had to nominate specific work for the loan this proviso was made.

The motion was seconded by Cr. T. N. Blackball.

Cr. R. L. Parkin asked if the Mayor thought that the loan could be raised at 5J per cent.

The Mayor said that they had to go through this formula, as the Act would only allow 5% per cent. Personally, he thought there was no doubt that tne rate of interest was gradually coming down.

Cr. Parkin said that he intended to support the motion. It had been suggested or advocated by the residents of Vogeltown that a joint poll should be taken for trams both to Westown and Vogeltown, but he was against this at the present time, for the reason that though the engineer might be able to provide the estimate for the extension to Vogeltown, the work could not be proceeded with for some time, and in a couple of years the estimates might be out by a couple of thousand pounds. Cr. Kibby asked if the work was to !be done by contract or by the council, the Mayor replying that no decision had been come to yet. but he personally thought that it should be by contract. VOGELTOWN’S ATTITUDE. Cr. V. Griffiths said he was strongly in favor of the extension to Westown, but lie thought they should be very careful that they acted in a manner to ensure the carrying of the loan by the ratepayers. They should be a united borough and have the whole of the council and the whole of the ratepayers lookin'- for tramways, pushing for these extensions, and pushing for the poll, as they were aware, the estimates for the Vogeltown tramway had been delayed for eight weeks from the last council meeting, and he did not think that, at .the present juncture, they were in a position to fairlv view this question of £19,000. It had been suggested that the work be done by contract, and, that being so, he thought that that was a strong reason for waiting until the Vogeltown estimates were before them, so that the whole position might be reviewed.

Cr. Griffiths thought that if they waited they would be in a better position to come to a decision. He did not think that at the present time they were in a position to come to a decision. He would move, therefore, that a decision on the notice of motion be deferred until the council had an opportunity o f considerinir the estimates of the tramway extensions to Vogeltown. Speaking to the amendment, Cr. Griffiths said that if they had one section working for and another against, it was generally the case that the proposal fell between the two. He would not like to see that come about. The growing population of Vogeltown would more than demand the extension to that suburb, and he thought that when the figures were available it would be shown that the revenue to be derived would more than justify the inclusion of Vogeltown. The amendment was seconded pro forma by Cr. Kibby. AMENDMENT REJECTED. Cr. R. A. Large said that he would oppose the amendment. He did not think they could fairly ask Westown to wait. By the time they had the Vogeltown estimates, and owing to the Christmas season coming on, it would be well into next summer before they could call for tenders. The amendment was also opposed by Crs. F. J. Hill. Blackhall, and J. Brown, who considered that Westown had the prior claim, Cr. Brown intimating that if they went to the ratepayers for a £50,000 loan for the two proposals the proposal would be defeated. The Mayor said he was very sorry that the amendment had been moved, and lie thought that Vogeltown was very ill advised. It was not business to go for big loans while costs were still comparatively high. What he objected to wa- that Vogeltown had not approached th? council for a poll to be 'taken on the Vogeltown proposal at the same time, but had attempted to load the Westown proposal. Tn other words, Vogeltown had adopted a dog in the manger policy. It was an attitude much to be regretted, and he thought it would react againfet Vogeltown. There had not been a dissentient voice asrainst the Westown proposals, and even Vogeltown agreed. There was no doubt, however, that if they had to go outside New Zealand for money they would have to go for the. whole loan. Th? amendment was defeated. Cr. Griffiths being the only supporter. The Mayor then put the motion, which was carried unanimously.