LOAN OF £9000

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21124, 27 March 1934, Page 5

LOAN OF £9OOO

TRAMWAY BOARD SEEKS SANCTION MORE ONE-MAN TRAMS The decision to approach lite Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the borrowing of £9OOO to convert Ki Biill cars into one-man cars and to construct balloon or "Y" track ].; op- v,?< readied at a meeting of tUe ChrisK-hurch Tramway Board yesterday. 'i here were present: Messrs J. K. Archer (chairman!. E. J. Howard. M.r., J. Mathison, G. Manning. C. E. Jones W. J. Walter, E. Parlane, G. T. Tluu-aion, and Mrs E. R. MeCombs, MP. Objections were lodged by tlirec persons. Miss A. Forrest, of oC Casnel street, said: "... You must remember that the tramway service is not a charitable institution, and should be made to pay. Therefore, cut your cunt according to your cloth." Mrs Papps. who t;ave no address in her letter, said: "... You must make ends meet by your superior management over the former board." Mr J. Guthrie, of ".35 Moorhouse avenue, said he had seen the advertisements in the newspapers. :u\d formally objected to the raising or a loan. Mr Howard, who was temporarily in the chair, said that although it was doubtful if two of the objections were valid, they would be sent forward to Wellington with the application. Mr Manning said he wondered if '.lie Brill ears were the lightest type of cars that could be converted. He was under the impression that the cars in Christchurch were very heavy, and consequently relatively expensive to run. When he was in Glasgow in !d:10 he noticed how light the cars were, and thought that they must be more economical to run.

The general manager (Mr Frank Thompson) said the Brill ears were selected for two reason-. The first and principal one was the platform arrangement of those cars made it cheaper for the conversion to be made. The Brill cars had a separate compartment for the motormau, which meant that the platform was bigger than in the older type of ear. If one of the older tvpe of car were converted, il would cost about £l!00 more. The second reason was that lite Brill cars were newer, and had more powerful and speedv motors than (he old cars. Mrs MeCombs asked if the- eonver- ■ '.'ll of the Brill cars meant that the lower and more uncomfortable open cars were to be used on the long distance journeys, such as to Sumner and Brighton.

Mr Howard: \..w you have raised a hornet's nest. Mrs McCombs said the residents of Sumiior objected very slrnnglv to open ear:- in the winter months. "They had to travel across the eausewavs in bail weather in open or drauphtv'cars. Mr Thompson s;,;d that l.'S Brill ear. would nut be converted in one batch and the ears that would !;ikc their place would not be open ears. Thev had none of the open ears that thev umd to have. Mrs MeCombs: Thev are stiM draughty. Mr Thompson addid that while thev nuaht not be so speedv bv care with respect to the use of trailers thev e. Uk! maintain Hie time-table.