WADESTOWN TRAMS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 47, 24 August 1917, Page 2

WADESTOWN TRAMS

LENGTHENING OF SECTIONS

A QUESTION OP EQUITY,

The following recommendation in con•nection with the Wadestown tramway system was made by the Tramways Committee to the City Council last night:—"The Committee has to report that it has considered the representations of _the Wadestc-wn residents for a revision of the sections on the' Wadestown tramway route, and recommends that, on and after the Ist October next, the following be the sections on this route : Veitch and Allan's to Government Buildings, Government Buildings to Orchard -street, Orchard-street to terminus."

Councillor Atkinson opposed the recommendation, stating that the Wadestown people got far more than they were entitled to when they won the recent lawsuit in the Supreme "Court. Before taking the case the residents endeavoured to arrive at a compromise,, but did not succeed. It mea/at all or nothing, and the residents' received all. It was not equitable, but it was law. The present was not. the time to make any concessions.

Councillor M'Kenzie moved that the recommendation should be referred back to the committee.

Councillor Hildreth seconded the motion, and said that in doing ed la had no desire to "get one back" on to the. Wadestown people, by whom they Had been, he was goiug to say, "rooked," but perhaps that was. not the proper term to use. He agreed with Councillor Atkinson that no concessions should be made at the present critical time. Councillor Frost said that the, suburb of Wadestown had been penalised all along because of; the high tram fares. H,e favoured the committee's recommendation, and was supported by Councillors Fitzgerald, Castle, and Norwood. Councillor Luckie said ha was impressed by Councillor Atkinson's argument, but he did not like the idea of differentiating between the various portions of the city served by trams. It had never been suggested that each section should pay for itself. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) said that the council stood for fair play to all sections of the community. If the earlier residents of Wadestown had failed to keep their agreement, the present population should not be penalised. They should abide loyally by the findings of the Supreme Court. He thought the council would stultify jtself if it postponed the report. They should look upon the whole tramway undertaking as one big machine, in which all should bear the benefits.

The amendment was lost by eleven votes to four, those voting for it being Councillors. Atkinson, Godber, Hildxeth, and M'Kenzie. The committee's recommendation was then agreed to.