HUTT TRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 8

HUTT TRAMS.

VIEWS OF BOARD'S CHAIRMAN. COST, REVENI-K AND PROSPECTS. Now that tho question of tramways has become a burning one in the Hutt Valley a reporter interviewed the chairman of the board, Mr. .). W. M'Rwan, to ascertain his views upon the questions involved. In reference to the cost of construction, Mr. M'Ewan pointed out that comparisons with English or American costs were of very little value, varying as they do from ".£16113. as in the ease of West Ham, England, to £20,550 in the case of iNeivcastlo-on-Tyne. As to America, Mr. U. Duwpon, an admitted authority, gives the initial costs, based on the experience of street-railway managers, and contractors of powerhouse, generators, plant, carshed, roll-ing-stock, motors, and their immediate accessories, as £1000 per motor-car, equipped and overhead equipment, permanent way, bonding, etc. , , as £2000 per mile. The Tramway Board, elected by the people of the district (Mr. M'Ewan continued), has during the past IS months carefully considered reports from (1) Mr. Goodman, who had charge of the construction of the Diinedin Tramways;. (2) Mr. Fulton, designer of the Hut't Bridge; (3) Messrs. Cook and Trott, borough engineers; (4) Mr. H. S. King, M.I.E.R In addition, it has had tlie advantage of Wangamii's actual experience, as disclosed in that borough's balance-sheet. The conclusion come to by the board, based on the information of the experts mentioned, is that an up-to-date service covering 11 miles can be put down for £55,(10(J. "Personally,' , said Mr. M'Ewan, "I place very great reliance upon Mr. Goodman's report. Mr. Goodman is an electrical engineer of wide experience, at present managing the Adelaide Tramways. In his report he states that the Hutt Valley is eminently suitable for tho installation of a tramway service. There are practically no difficulties to overcome, and it 6hould prove successful from tho start with good management. If (continued Mr. M'Ewan) the Wanganui people can got a servie.e put down at a cost of £7500 per mile, surely we have brains enough to put a Hutt Valley service down at £8000 per mile." •As to running costs, interest, and other charges, these arc estimated as follow:— £ Interest at ii per cent 3,825 Sinking Fund, at 1 per cent. ... 850 Depreciation at 2 per cent 1,700 Traffic expenses 5,42!) Powerhouse expouses l,u'2U Total £13,422 "Should we be able to obtain- the sum required for laying down tho servico (£85,000) from the State Advances Department, a saving of £800 per annum will be effected. Depreciation is iu excess of Auckland's allowance of 1.77. "The number of ears, (10.) provided for would be sufficient to maintain a ten-minute service throughout tlie district. This is obviously unnecessary. The broken shift system would be adopted. Provision would be made for a (juick morning and evening service. On some, sections an hourly service would be ample during tin. , day. All Che questions relating to the cost of running the service have bcen ; dealt with by tho board's experts, and the highest estimate (£54!£J.) has been taken, so -as to be well ou tho safe side. Powerhouse costs are easier to estimate, and experts arc practically unanimous that the amount provided for is ample—viz., £1020. "Now for the question of revenue. Experts everywhere first ascertain the population of the district to bo served, and then make allowance for any special features peculiar to the district, such as numbor of visitors, either on holiday or ordinary occasions, and then apply the experience gained elsewhere- under similar .conditions as to the amount of money per head of the population spent yearly hi car fares. Home experience is of little valuov iu this connection. Long sections, halfpenny fares, and in some cases farthing fares' prevail there, and besides, iu very many of tho tramway districts, the spending power of the peoplo is very much less than in the Dominion. Mr. Goodman has estimated that 225. 6J. per head woiikl v he spent on car fares in this district; llr. Fulton, 255. New Zealand experience is as follows:— Christchurch, £1 6s. (3d.; Wellington, £! 17s. Id.; Dunedin, £1 9s. 6d.; Auckland, £1 15s. 3d.; Miramar, £1 17s. 3d.; Wanganiii. £1 Os. 6d. "In view of these figures and the many natural attractions of the Valley which, many hold, exceed those of any other part of tlie Wellington district, the board claim that they are on the side of safety in estimating its roveuuo from car-fares at 20s. per head. "Now as ■to population. It must be understood that the tramway disT trict includes not only the Hutt and l'etone boroughs, but also a largo slice of the Hutt county. The population since the census was taken has increased by 33 per cent., taking the Registrar-General's figures, and is today not less than 13,000. Since tho normal increase is at least 7.'. per cent-, the board is fully justified in estimating that when the trams are running the population will be at least 34,000. Fourteen thousand persons at 20s. per annum will provide a revenue of £14,00(1; add to this the sum of .£2OO for advertising and other receipt items, the total revenue, will he £14,200, or .£778 iu excess of the expenditure (£13,422). This leaves out of consideration all possible receipts from the sale of electricity for power and lighting purposes. The possibilities under this head as the district develops are well worth bearing in mind. "As 1 will have an opportunity of dealing fully and freely with the' criticisms that have been poured upon tho board's proposals by irresponsible individuals, 1 will content myself with the foregoing outline of the scheme at present. As to the board's chanco of success at the poll on Wednesday next I am very sanguino that the commonsense of the ivople of the Valley will be manifested" by a heavy endorsement of the proposal to provide an up-to-date tram service to assist tho further development of the district."