TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 5

TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

WILLIB STREET TO POST OFFICE. '■< STILL INDEFINITE.; ■ The much-talked-of, but long-delayed, textension of the tram track from Willis Street to the Post Office by way of Customhouse Quay was brought forward 'at last night's meeting-of the City Council, when Councillor HJhdmarsb moved: "That a tramway be. made from Willis. Street to the main track iiear the Post Office along Customhouse ftoay,". ■.' •■■.■•■ ■ ■;■ •••■■ Councillor Hindmarsh' also moved: "That the Post Office Square be wood blocked," and "that the cost of tho permanent way of such tramway, £3750, and : of the overhead equipment,! £500, be advanced by the district fund to the Tramway Department in April next." :■■' Councillor Hindmarsh said that he considered , wood-blocking of the Post Office Square; was a very important matter. The joining of the tram from Willis Street to the Post Office was only a small work,'and he 'thought the council should pass the work. Fromtho end •of Willis Street to Grey Street the Qnay was very narrow, and the line down Customhouse Quay would allow, the traffic to be'divided and , handled more'easily. The tramway manager •thought the. scheme a good one, and it was also supported by the City' Engineer. It would cost about £4000 to -wood-block the -■ Post Office : 'Square, which money he thought the district fund: could "-advance to the Tramway . Department. .The Mayor: "Has it got the money? Councillor Hindmarsh said it could get the money and the Tramway Department could soon pay it back.-He sug-' gested that the' work. should be done next winter, and,tbat the Department should pay back half of-.the money this year and half next year. Councillor Fletcher supported, the motion. The Post Office Square was' at . present one of the dirtiest places in the city, with its paper, etc., .blowing about. • The' impresion ■ created by the square on'visitors coming off'the wharf would be much better if the wood-block-ing was done. Councillor Ballinger said the motion had already been before the Tramways Committee, which had some doubt as to whether the estimate included the wood-blocking of the whole of Customhouse Quay. This matter, was . being looked into, and the question had been postponed by the committee for a fortnight to find but the exact position. .He was surprised at Councillor Hindmarsh moving as he had done whilst the matter was under the consideration ,of the Tramways Committee. He moved that the matter be referred back to the committee. . ...

Councillor Smith considered that the proposal for the extension of the tramway should have come from the. Tramways Committee. " > ' .''""•■ .- Councillor Trevor pointed out that the joining lines had already been considered by the Tramways Committee, who had; recommended that the works , should be carried out. : "It is the final piece to be laid down in the tramway system," said Councillor Trevor, "and asJt'is right in the centre of the city, there can be no question that, if this part was .connected up, the work would pay, for itself." , y, ■'/■ Supporting the amendment,' Councillor.Devine expressed the opinion that no councillor should attempt'to hasten, by notice of motion,'any matter which be knew to be under consideration by a, committee. "It is & bad precedent," said Councillor Devine, ' 'and I object to it, unless it is.evident that the committee is trying: to keep a thing baok, and that cannot, be alleged here. The tramway matter, is under .the consideration- of tho Tramways Committee, and the .Finance Committee: is- attending-to; the wood-blocking of the city streets."' Councillor, Devine urged that Brooklyn residents-; were mainly; responsible. tor the pushing of the tramway proposal. The traffic on their section was falling off, but, notwithstanding ' that '■■■■■ fact, they wanted to be carried right down to-the Post Office for the same fare ■ _ Councillor Cohen considered that the lines should be joined, so that cars might run right-to the'-Post Office, and a through service might'be established. Councillor .Fitzgerald said that the proposals should have been brought up first of. all, in committee, and, if: the committee did,not take it up, the councillor who was putting . forward . the proposals should bring .them before the Committee-the City Council. The Tramways Committee had failed in : its duty, and Councillor Hindmarsh was deserving of the commendation of ■ the council for having brought these matters before These matters, in Councillor-Fitzgerald's opinion had do -/K th ? ro oklyn residents. tiviT* 7 ™- (?r. Newman) .remarked that the council had had very many liabilities to meet during the year, and they intended to see: what could be done on April 1. By the time the street was on "both sides, and the tramway was.put down, the cost .would be £9000. When Councillor Hmdmarsli said; that this would be paid out of the district fund, he might just as weU say that it was to be paid out of the overdraft, because there was no district fund for it to be paid out of. It was a great work of city improvement, but it would cost £9000 with an additional £450 per year for mterest and sinking fund. The ovor- 1 dr f t »* Present was largo, and he did not think that the council ought to undertake the work now. "The revenue ' ■ 3u i'n l?l m ? .opinion, will not be wortLtalkmg of," added the Mayor. In his reply, Councillor Hindmarsh impressed the decided opinion that the council itself, apart from, all- committees, should have some power of eaying what was to be done in regard to proposed important works. It was agreed that the matters should be referred to the <mnmittees, the voting being:—For the amendment: The Mayor, Councillors Atkinson, Ballinger, Cohen, Devine, Luke, Smith, and mtZ ! h Ju : CoMcillors Fitzgerald, Fletcher, Frost, and Hind-