CRY FROM WADESTOWN

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2219, 4 August 1914, Page 7

CRY FROM WADESTOWN

RATES AND TRAMWAYS. • Yesterday afternoon a doputation representing'tho 'Wadestown. Ratepayers' Association called oii the Tramways Oomrhittee of the City Council, to lay before them matters concerning the manner in which they were being taxed in connection with the tramway Bervico. Mr. Carwell Cooke thought that several' hundred, pounds per annum was due to Wadestown through tho extra traffic between- the Government Buildings and Molesworth Street," _ which amounted last year to £2200, which was at present all credited to the city; Ha thought ''it unfair that" tho whole of Wadestown should have to suffer because there were some wealthy ratepayers in the district, such as tho Rhodes Estate. They only formed 6 per cent, of the community, and the heavy tax was being imposed oh the other 94 per cent. The speaker referred to the 23, per cent., depreciation on everything Wadestown was being charged, even to works (such as cuttings) that were not depreciating. !If the. city were to obtain from tho Government the right of administration over the scenic, reserve of 130 acres (at Wadestown), and provide a vehicle service thereto, it would be a boon to citizens, and would tend to make the tramways, not only selfsupporting, but profitable..'.The Mayor .(Mr. J. P. Luke) said that the committee would go into the representations very carefully, and report to the council in due course. The Wadestown.. trams har made a. loss of £234 last year, which the City Council had provided out of the general fund, whilst the loss up to the present time had been £1086. Thp suspense account had been reduced to £193. , Depreciation had been fixed at 2j per cent., and with regard to the rather heavy banks and permanent-way that might be considered iexcessive, but the depreciation on the running gear was a good deal in excess— per cent, was really an aver, age struck over the whole undertaking and he Was prepared to say 'that he thought it a fair proportion. His personal opinion was that the interests of Wadestown and the city were common, and that Wellington should be prepared to build up the community at Wadestown. Notwithstanding that the exist ence of the Rhodes Estate was. some-. what of he hoped and trusted that tho position arrived at would be satisfactory to all parties. Mr. R. 'Fletcher commended the idea of the committee visiting Wadestown, and the Mayor agreed.