TRAM EXTENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 199, 22 August 1919, Page 4

TRAM EXTENSIONS.

MATERIAL TOO EXPENSIVE. The people in the outlying suburbs seem to be getting a trifle impatient for the extension of the tramway service into their districts. The local bodies from Ellerslie and Point Chevalier had a request for continuation of the tram tracks before the City Council last night. So far as the Ellerslie request was concerned, the reply was "deferred till material is cheaper," while with regard to Point Chevalier the Council took heed of Mr. Walklate's report that the development of the district was not yet sufficient to warrant a tram-line.

An interesting comparison of tho prices ruling for tram rails over five years was made by the Tramway Manager in a subsequent report received by the Council. He advised that he had received a cabled quotation for American steel rails, British ones being unobtainable. The prices ruling per ton from 1914 until the present quotation were compared. 1101b rails were £7 14/6 in 194, they -went to £20 4/7 in 1017, and now were £2S. 1161b lines were quoted at £29, and were £24 4/7 two years ago and only £S 3/4 at the beginning of the war.

After this the manager asked to be allowed to place an order for 000 tons of rails and 20 tons of fishplates, the full quantity to cost £16.330. On the recommendation of the Public Services Committee he was authorised to purchase 300 tons of rails.