BACK TO STEAM TEAMS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 9 September 1930, Page 10

BACK TO STEAM TEAMS.

EMERGENCY MEASURES. TRAMWAY BOARD PREPARES. If the power situation becomes much worse, in order to conserve the supply of electricity the Christchurch Tram, way Board will revert to the running of steam trams on the Sumner and New Brighton lines, and use buses, instead of trams, between Barrington street and the Cashmere Hills terminus. Mr W. Hayward (chairman) issued a warning at yesterday's meeting that an emergency measure of this nature would be carried into effect in the event of the Public Works Department calling upon the Board to carry a greater proportion of the load than tho 60 per cent, it was now bearing. The Works and Traffic Committee reported: Owing to shortage of water at Lake Coleridge, the Public Works Department requested the Board to operate a 1000 k.w. machine by steam. Under the agreement existing, the Department will pay the Board id permit for the power so generated. The Board will not be required to pay the .454 which it would have had to pay if it had been using Lake Coleridge current. As against this credit of 1.2 d per unit the Board has to provide staff and coal for the steam-generated plant. ' The Board is continuing to take Lake Coleridge current through the Fendalton and Cashmere sub-stations, which have a capacity of 1100 k.w. Curtailment of Services. "If this shortage goes on," said Mr Hayward, "a curtailment of services, such as the management has under consideration, may be put into effect. The service to Sumner may be run by steam, and that to Cashmere from Barrington street by bus. Trams running on the hills use a considerable amount of power." _ A . , Airs E. B. McCombs: You certainly have given us something to think about. The Board is carrying a large proportion of its load. - Mr Hayward: That would be only if we were called upon to carry the whole of the load. At present the Board is carrying only 60 per cent. If we are thrown on our own resources we cannot possibly run. all our present serVX jsrs McCombs: Would not the service to New Brighton be by steam, tool Mr Hayward: Quite possibly. Mrs McCombs: All lines should carry a proportion of the burden; the disadvantages should be distributed. Mr Hayward: As far as possible, this will be done, but you will understand that we could not nuiifj tram to Sumner, and then take it off and run it to New' Brighton. . MrV McCombs said that some united action should be taken to approach the Government on the matter. When luS was affected by fha shortage at Arapuni, the Government stepped in, and established part of a steam plant a? Auckland, and "made «**"•£»*£ for some of the capital charges. Be fore the people are placed under the disadvantages threatening,'* said Mrs McCombs, ? «all authorities concerned in £ system should unite in W-gg the Government, and asking it to take steps to prevent them. The City of Christchureh offered to run its own ele* trical plant. If we showed that were desirous of having the Govern. »ent come to our help more, I think it W Mr d Hayward: The first move> would be made by the City Conned, I take it. Power Being Wasted. Mr W. Williamson agreed with Mrs McCombs. The Board ™** ol ?*J:l share, he said. The Government was using considerable quantities of electricity itself at Waitaki and elsewhere. Suction gas plants eould bo brought into use, and the Government should have its attention drawn to Jhe waste of power going on in the Pubbe Works Jd> E H. Andrews: Everybody should take all possible measures to economise. The situation hero is quite different from that in Auckland, where they had a definite breakdown. Mrs McCombs: We have been threatened with the same. Mr Andrews: Our «ase, no doubt, is, iust a temporary business, and will be remedied as soon as possible. The Government could not set up a temporary plant in a day, or a month; it would take time. The position is not so baa as has been made out, if the people and the local bodies would economise. We would not be justified in asking the Government to undertake such an ex? penditure as in Auckland, where it has had to find £200,000. Mr H. Pearce: I suppose the Government is carrying out its agreement with the Board? Mr Prank Thompson (General Manager): Yes. Mr D. Sykes said nobody seemedt© be economising in the City. "Looking towards the town at night from outside, one would think there was a fire," he said. • ■ ■ • * Mr Hayward said,, the management had under consideration a review of the time-table, and the Board would, be ready in the event of & curtailment being forced on it. "This rain, I take it, will assist matters," he added. "The melting 6t the snow will help, too." Mr Thompson said the Board eould not do much more to conserve power at present, but he would rather report on such a matter in committee. * The Tramway Board has four steamengines available at once. Although between 30 and 40 years old, they have been used continuously for hauling shingle since the when they were superseded by the electric trams for passenger traffic. Fully-trained drivers are thus already at work.