SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1928, Page 9

SUBURBAN TRANSPORT.

ONEHUNGA WELL SERVED.

OUT DISTRICTS LESS FORTUNATE.

In many of the suburban districts there is a feeling that progress is retarded by the lack of adequate transport facilities. This question was discussed by the Onehunga Chamber of Commerce last night, when the opinion was expressed that Onehunga was well served by the trams.

Mr. J. Pilkington said that when tlie buses started to run through to Auckland from Onehunga for fourpence each passenger, the business of the local tradespeople fell off from 25 to 30 per cent. It was not true to say that the empty houses in Onehunga were the result of the loss of this bus service and the consequent increase of the tram fares. It was the general lack of employment that caused some people to give up housekeeping and to take rooms with their friends.

Mr. J. E. Cowell, ex-Mayor, confirmed this statement. He said that trade had not returned to Onehunga when the tram fares were raised owing to the continued depression. He did not know that they could strengthen the hands of the council at present. *

Mr. J. Laking reminded the meeting that the present tram service was of value to Onehunga, as, according to a statement of an ex-Mayor, the city had saved Onehunga £3000 when it laid double lines from the Royal Oak to lower Queen Street. This covered orethird of the street, and was maintained by the City Council. If the trams were scrapped in favour of the buses the cost of the upkeep of the whole street would fall upon Onehunga ratepayers. The president, Mr. H. J. Davies, J.P., allowed that Onehunga was well served iwith the tram service, but the residents in Te Papapa and Hillsboro' wanted facilities for travelling to the trams from their homes. Mr. T. Bassett draw attention to the fact that any drastic alteration in the transport between the city and suburbs might fall on the ratepayers in the event of a loss on the new service. Mr. J. E. Green, J.P., and others supported a metropolitan transport service. After Mr. F. H. Dodd, had quoted the baneful effects of an extended service at Christchurch on the suburban shopkeepers it was decided to defer further consideration for the present.