NORTH BEACH LINE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19258, 13 March 1928, Page 8

NORTH BEACH LINE.

NO DEFINITE ACTION. BOARD DEFERS REMOVAL. A proposal that the North Beach tram line from Burwood to the beach should be definitely demolished and the rails taken up was defeated at a meeting of tho Tramway Board held yesterday. Mr D. Sykes moved, in accordance with previous notice: "That the plant or works involved in the tramway undertaking beyond Bunvood, and which were authorised to bo removed by poll of ratepayers in April last be removed forthwith, and that the original cost of same be paid into the Board's sinking fund by the Board's Depreciation Fund Commissioners on or before March

31st, 1928." "In the Christchuich Tramway District Amendment Act, 1926," said Mr Sykes, "it laid down that in the event of a poll of ratepayers deciding to remove and discontinue any tramway line forming part of its system, the Depreciation Fund Commissioners shall at the Board's request pay into the Christchurch tramway sinking fund tho original cost of such plant works. When that is done, the ordinary revenue account will receive credit for the interest earned by the Sinking Fund Commissioners. In addition to that, the revenue account is relieved from the necessity to set aside depreciation for the line which then would no longer exist. "For the benefit of new members, I ought to state that no proposal for a tramway service beyond Burwood was ever submitted to the ratepayers. Tho first Tramway Board stated clearly it would never pay to go beyond thab point (which has proved correct). 1 ought also to state that no other'district has got a tramway service without a general ratepayers' poll, or special rating area poll. After years with deficiencies totalling over £45,000, the time arrived when the Board's experts reported that this piece of line must be renewed if the service was to be carried on. The depreciation fund would have to find the money, but when the money was taken out of the fund for that purpose, the fund would lose the interest which it was earning. Therefore, the then Board decided that the line ought to be lifted, and a tram service given to North Beach via No. 5 route, and a bus.service via Wainom and Racecourse roads. A poll of ratepayers was demanded. You know the results, and that poll cost £1289."

Opinion Didn't Count. "I would point out that your opinion and mine, or anybody else's, don't count after the ratepayers have decided a thing by a poll. It is our job now to carry out their mandate, or get out ourselves. "It is a curious thing," Mr Sykes concluded, "that those most prominent in encouraging and assisting to procure a bus opposition service against this line should now be so anxious for the ratepayers' mandate for the removal of that line to be set aside. Some outrageous statements have been made, with respect to the Board submitting the matter to the ratepayers. One of the deputations at last Board meeting said the poll was grossly unfair, and even attacked Central Brighton ratepayers, saying 80 per cent, there voted against what was to them a rival line.' Why, the actual figures at Central Brighton were 92 for, 91 against. The total votes over the whole district were: For removal 7973, against 4016. The line is now out of use as far as Park road, yet revenue account has to be charged with standing charges for a service that has ceased to be. Belief can only come by the re- oval of the rails.'' Mr G. T. Booth, secn"<iii<r the motion, said that to reopen the line would require very extensive repairs which would keep the line open for six or seven years, when, if not before, it would have to Be relaid. In view of the heavy losses on the line, over £2OOO a year, or £45,279 from 1913 until 1927, and the fact that when the line had to be relaid interest and other charges would increase the cost of the line still more, it had been decided, and confirmed by a poll, that the line should be closed. In regard to holiday traffic, the difficulty could be solved byrunning buses from some part of the Papanui line across to North Beach. He did not suggest that such a service would pay, but it would be considerably less in cost than that entailed in reopening the tram line from Burwood. The time would come when all the long lines would be abandoned for some other form of conveyance. He was surprised that Mr Sykes had not suggested the possibility of railless cars being used on the North Beach line. These were being proven very suitable for use on lines where there was not very heavy and continuous traffic.

"I think the duty of the Board is quite clear," said Mr Booth, "to rid itself completely of the North Beach line as it exists at present." Mr W. J. Walter opposed, the motion. He did not think the poll' for discontinuance of the line would have been carried if people had been given a separate day to vote on it. The provisions then madis had not been carried out by the Board, and the service with which they had replaced the tram service was inadequate. If t>- Board proposed taking up lines because they were losing, they would require to take up practically the whole system. Mr E. H. Andrews said that before deciding to pull up the line to North Beach they should decide whether it might not pay to keen the line open. If it could be run with one-man cars at a minimum loss, then it might be better to consider keeping it open. Then if they decided that the line would have to come up they should turn their attention to other losing lines such as that to Sockburn.

Line Should Remain. Mr J. A. Flesher said that Mr Sykes's contention that the ratepayers had never sanctioned the laying of the North Beach line was absurd. It had been built after two loans had been sanctioned by poll. The lino, had never had a fair show. It was laid with the cheapest rails purchasable, and as the Board had been formed with the obligation to provide suitable traction to the people the line should be kept open. The service should be r stored and a limited service run to the beach, with only a few trips along to New Brighton. The vote on the question was got from the people under misrepresentation. The voting papers said distinctly that the line would be discontinued, provided suitable arrangements were made with the Wainoni service. There was no getting away from the fact that the Inter-City serviee was taking from the profits of the Board at the rate of £4OOO a year. Thev should get legislation to take the service away from that man. Air Flesher moved as an amendment nn d Mrs McCombs seconded that further discussion of the matter be held over until the facts had been considerAlr W "Williamson favoured the amendment. To-day they were spending £l4 000 on the line from the Squar« +n the Hospital, although the Riccarton line lost £4OOO last year. Was it fair to spend this on a non-paying line and talk of pulling up another line be can=e it did not pay. The chairman (Mr J. Wood) said there liad been many mis-statements made that afternoon. Ho thought : + I con \(\ do no harm to hold the matter

over for a time. It was only because so much money had been spent on tho Riccarton line that that line was not paying as it should do. The question was therefore held over for consideration. Must Open Whole Line. , lleferring to the same matter, a request was received from the Pioneer bports Club ■ that the portion of the Christchurch-North Beach line between North Beach and the New Brighton Trotting Club's ground should be reopened for March 31st, when the club is holding a sports meeting at the Trotting Club ground in aid of unemployment. Mr W. J. Walter moved that the request should be agreed to. Mr D. Sykes was of the opinion that it was absurd to wish to hold the sports there when there wej-e grounds in the town where they could have them. He considered there was "string-pulling" going on. Mr E. H. Andrews asked whether that would mean they would have to open the line over its whole length. The chairman said that legal opinion was that this would be the case. Mr W. Hayward said they should make this clear to the public, explaining that the Board sympathised with such a request but that if part of the line were opened they would have to reopen the whole line. Mr W. Williamson said that it was time for the question to come up for further consideration. A poll had falsely represented the position, and thev must decide finally whether they would open up the line or leave it closed. , • Mr J A Flesher moved, as an amendment,' and Mrs E. R. McC'ombs seconded, a motion that the matter be referred to the Works and Tramc CornMr Walter agreed to this being done. He objected to Mr Sykes's speaking of "string-pulling," when the only place that motor-cycle sports could be held was on the New Briehton ground. Any attempt to hold such races at Englisn Park had been unsuccessful, as the track I was not suitable. . 1 The amendment was carried.