THE TRAMWAY SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2581, 1 October 1915, Page 5

THE TRAMWAY SYSTEM

CUBA STREET CARS MANAGER PRESENTS A REPORT /Recently a deputation of Cuba. Street business men waited on tho City Council and'asked for a better train service ■through : Cuba Street. Last evening the City Council received the following report on the subject from the manager of the', Tramway (Mr. W.' H. Moiv. toil)"In connection i with the complaints concerning .the Cuba Street sorvioe, it' would appear, from statements made by. members of Vthe- deputation of the Cuba Streat' shopkeepers tlmt they were" under, the / impression: that the Cuba. Street service was reduced when the Karori -cars were diyeriied to Courtenay Place. .. As the ' Newtown ■ cars running via Cuba" Street were simply, diverted from jlolesworth Street and Tinakori Road to Thorndon Quay the idea that the service was thus reduced is quite erroneous. After looking, very carefully into the whole question of the' car routing arrangements I. have to report that 1 cannot recommend the diverting of cars from : the Courtenay Place route to Cuba Street and Vivian Street, as, apart., from the fact that the present' Cuba-Street service is sufficient to cope with the traffic .offering,additional ■ cars : would greatly increaso the delays which' are inherent: to the. working of ,single track. In order that this line could be improved to satfe: factorily deal with a,'heavy service; it would be necessary 'to duplicate not only Cuba Street, but Vivian Street as well. -As the duplication of Cuba Street would mean. ; the- setting back of -the pavement and shop verandahs on one side of:the.street the cost of this work would be prohibitive imder present cirWith a view to improving ■ the - Aro Street ...service, it is proposed to separate the Aro Street arid Wadestown service, when the next, timetables aro brought out. > By • combining - the Aro Street and Bi-00l lyn services, the cars operating these'services , would run alternately to each termini, and thereby give practically, an equidistant service through Upper Willis Street. If this arrangement is adopted the Wades-/ town; cars could bo run through to Cuba Street to the section end at Ingestre Street; .thereby. improving the Cuba. Street service and giving a direct service froiri Tinakori Road to Cuba Street. ' This is the best proposal that I can suggest at present.'' ' • Councillor J., Godber spoke adversely of the manager's report, arid .contended that improvements in the service could be made. .

Councillor V!. H. Bennett saidttiat Cuba Street was one of the most heavily rated .portions of the city, and'that it should bo more considered. • Mr; TV*. H. P.; Barber remarked that almost ivery car travelling the City passed Cuba Street (or traversed it), and thb street was bo short that it : was no distance to walk from the tram 'stop at the Royal Oak corner, half-way lip, or from tlie other end half-way down. ' The Mayor 6aid that Wellington could congratulate itself on having the bestmanaged tramway system in New Zealand., ' There Had: Been many difficulties to contend with, not the least of which was the Daveyisirig of -the cars. In all the: circumstances. .. the financial, position of the tramway undertaking was ; particularly ; satisfactory.,: As to the Cuba Street service, he did not think Cuba Street should in any way be penalised, but lie thought ;the: tramway manager should be supported,' as 'he had all;.the necessary data at- hand, and had reported from a business point of view. ■: The report. of ~ ths .manageri "was' adopted. :■ <<<•.