TRAMS AND TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 8

TRAMS AND TRANSPORT.

COMMISSION NEXT MONTH.

ANNITAXi BATING CHARGE. ? f CONTRIBUTION LAST YEAR. I;" Definite advice regarding the sitting bf tho proposed Transport Commission !s not yet available, but reports indicate that the inquiry will commencc early next month. "Ono of tho matters that will conic before tho commissioners for considers- , tion is tho question of tramway extensions in Auckland." said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman nt' the Tramways Com- < mit.teo of tho City Council, to-day. He added that tho council had already decided that extensions were necessary and estimates had been prepared in con- ] ncction with the proposed tramway developments. On the tramway routes ( at present in use the tramways department had paid to tho City Council and suburban local bodies for tho past- year rates which were as follow: City, £3881; Mount Albert, £.">7l; Onehunga, £10; Ono Tree Hill. £518; Newmarket, £106; Mount Koskill, £505; Mount Eden, [£•202. In addition to paying rates to the extent of £5045 last year for the use of the portion of the roadway occupied by tho tram tracks, tho department was also required to keep its part of the snrfaco in proper order, explained Mr. Allum. From the point of view of the outside local bodies, it was stated this morning that tho roading improvements put in hand some years ago, and the concrete roads which had been completed, had tho effect of protecting the tram tracks as well as giving an excellent surface for heavy traffic. Tho result was to assist tho tramways department. Mr. E. 11. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, said that tho travelling public paid in fares tho whole of the cost of maintaining the track and the interest and sinking fund on the capital sunk in tho undertaking. When the company was bought out by tho city corporation some of tho districts were much smaller than they wero to-day and they had since shown marked growth. Large sums had been spent on tho roads, and, as far as Mount Eden was concerned, the spread of population meant that only two-thirds of tho district was now being served by the trams. At tho request of the City Council, continued Mr. Potter, tho Mount Eden Borough Council extended the concrete road beyond tho tram terminus to the borough boundary, a promise being mado that tramway extensions would follow later. Special work was done in order to help with the tramway foundations and tho re-grading was greater than would havo been otherwise provided for. Recently the people had shown their preference for a bus service beyond tho tramway limits, and the desiro was that their needs should be met.