Western Access

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 291, 4 September 1931, Page 11

Western Access

Sir, —The statements made in a letter in this morning’s issue, from the executive of the Wellington Retail Traders’ Association in reference to the. above subject, appear to be somewhat misleading. A petition of 5000 ratepayers was certainly lodged against the proposal to acquire the necessary properties and construct a tramway through Sydney Street Cemetery, at an estimated cost of £75,000, but I submit that this has nothing, to do with the proposal now before us, viz., a track via Bowen, Museum and Sydney Streets, at an estimated cost of £24,000, and with the exception of a few letters that have appeared in the Press, very little opposition to the latter scheme has manifested itself—how then can the association assert that ratepayers are against the amended scheme? The wording of the statement that Karori has already three routes infers, to my mind, that a fourth is being asked for. This is not so; the present scheme is a deviation pure and simple, of an existassertion is also made that if the scheme, is proceeded with, it. will mean an increase in the payment of interest. This statement entirely conflicts with what his Worship the Mayor said at the public meeting held last Tuesday, when he stated that the tramway reserve fund was in credit to the extent of £40,000. This fund has been built up expressly for the purpose of extending tram tracks, and constructing deviations, etc. It was proposed to use £24,000 of this amount for the carrying out of this work. It was also stated at this meeting that the councils experts estimated a saving to the extent of 73,000 car miles per annum would be made if the trams were diverted by a route up Sydney Street, and also that no less a sum than £2OOO a year would be saved in running expenses. I submit, Sir, that if a return of over 8 per cent, can be shown on an investment of £24,000, this scheme is a profitable one for the ratepayers of our city. I ask the executive of the Retail Traders’• Association, where does the extra interest they assert will have to be found, come in? In conclusion, I wish to stress the following points in favour of the work being proceeded with: — . 1. That the proposition is one that will materially increase the profits of the tramway department in the saving of running expenses, and increased passenger traffic, brought about by a shorter and more direct route. , . ... 2. That the cost of this deviation will not increase the rates by one penny. 3. That work will be provided for hundreds of men now out of employment. 4. That the sum of £24,000 will be. put into circulation, and will help to stimulate trade. L , 5. That the shortened route and consequent saving of time will greatly benefit not only the residents ot Wadestowu, Northland, and Karori, but also the thousands of Wellington citizens who visit Karori Cemetery. ' , 6. That the carrying out of this work is favoured by all the members of the City Council and its responsible officers. —1 am, etc., pR(X j RBSSi Wellington, August 31.