TROLLEY-BUS ROUTE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20730, 15 December 1932, Page 5

TROLLEY-BUS ROUTE.

WAIMAIRI COUNCIL'S POSITION. NO GOVERNMENT GRANT. Ueceut.lv a request was made by ths Waiuiairi County Council for a grant to assist with the maintenance of Travis road and Francis avenue, over which the Tramway Board's trolley buses run. A letter was received at last night's meeting of the Council from the Public Works Department stating that the application arrived too late for consideration 011 the Supplementary Estimates. .Moreover, continue,! t lie letter, it w as hardly thought that the circumstances were such as to warrant a contribution from the Government. The UnderSecretary expressed th« opinion that the work should be carried out by the local controlling authority, with assistance from the Tramway Board if it could be procured. The Government had no funds this year from which a grant could possibly be made to assist the Council in maintaining the road. Cr. \\. (i. Chupmnn said the position could be overcome by taking advantage ot Iho Public Works Act, which stated that any excess or unreasonable damage done, whether by public or private people, was a liability on the parly concerned. The trolley-buses were too heavy, and the Tramway Hoard should be compelled to repair the damage under Ihe Act.

The foreman (Mr K. Voice) said that, ;i!I the .\nv Brighton loads were put. in order at the samp time, and there was no rl on I> t I hat the buses caused the. damage. Cr. Walter contended thai it was im fair to place all the, blame on the Tramway Hoard. Hundreds of motorcars traversed the road.o- going to and from the golf links. C'r. T/iggins expressed the opinion that the trolley-buses were solely to Id,•tine. He also emphasised the need for (he const ruction of the New Brigh ton road, but owing to the lack of tunds the work could not bo gone on with at present. t'rs. liiggins and Wither won: appointed to wait on the Minister for Public Works (the T!t. Hon. .1. G. I'nates) on liis next visit, to Christchurch and put the matter before him.