TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 39, 15 August 1905, Page 5

TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS.

A DISCUSSION IN THE CTTV COUNCIL. *

TBE MAYOR ON UNIFICATION.

AN IMPORTANT. DECISION.

The City Council last nighfc dealt with authorising the raising of the extra loan required for the completion of the towE way extensions to those districts - Correspondence on the subject of tho S te 7 f ltil V n \- th ? district, affec el (Island Bay, Kilbirnie, and Brooklyn) was received from the Bowneuth Rate payers' Association (objecting to separate rating), and from Mr. J as Re! II Chairman of the meeting of ratepayers held at Island Bay last week Hkh meeting declared for separate rating His Worship remarked that there had bee,, a difference of opinion as to how the vote should be taken. More money would probably be required, but for the moment, they could put aside the qu£! nr T ™ l " tllMe Wmdd be a deficiencY or not. The question was as to how the vote was to be taken. He understood that a resolution had been passed by sWiTk COU " CIl J tbat K0 Sreater rate should be assessed in the suburbs than \ v r Clty> and the cffecfc °f this was put before ratepayers in the suburbs. He did not know if this was true. Ho could see that it was intended that tho tramways should be worked as a whole and it' was quite competent for the Council if ifc chose to adopt that policy to say that it was the intention in future to work the whole system as one common work. There would not then be any special charge against any particular district. He did not think it competent for the Council to piss a resolution such as was passed by the former Council. However, they could rule that if there was a deficiency the city and suburban rates should be proportionate to the amount of sinking fund, but tho rate struck in the city and in the suburbs would not be exactly the salve. The.re could not possibly be a deficiency at the present time if the tramways we"ro all worked as one. Speaking in reference to the 2 )asfc f° ur months — April, May, June, and July— he said the tramways had realised thp estimate within, a few pounds. The revenue for the past four months was nt the rate of £68,400 for the year, as against an estimate of £68,800. These four months, it must be remembered, must be said to bo the worst four months of tho year. He would certainly be disappointed if the estimate was not exceeded by £5006, which would leave a, surplus of £10,000, exclusive of the surplus likely to be obtained off, the suburban line?, That would mean that after paying tho

sinking fund and interest on the city trams £10,OUU would remain to meet other charges. , No doubt there would . bo a- difference of opinion as to whether tho suburban tramway would pay. He considered the line from Island Bay would" pay from Hhe jump, and Brooklyn would probably pay an,d work its w.iy. Having adopted tho new route to Kilbirnie, it might be a, short time before that would pay, but it would not only pay, but would give revenue. He thought it might bo Avise to adopt a complete ' unification of .the city and suburban tramways, and say" that they should be ■worked as one project. Touching on the question of extensions, the Mayor said personally, speaking he was satisfied, and he thought the 'i'raiuwaya Committee was also, that with the deviation made in the Kilbirnie" route, and the accession to the district it would tap, it would be- capable of indefinite extension. . It •would be unwise not tovtake the opportunity of carrying the line to the proposed point, and if he had his way he ■would take it- out so that it would open up the beach more effectually than was "done under tlie present proposal.. Since they had decided to make special separate districts, the matter had been looked at differently. He thought that perhaps they ibould adhere to the former proposal that the whole district should be rated, and at the same time declare it to bo their policy that the whole earning of the tramways be pooled. This would do away with the nervousness now felt by residents of the outlying districts. His Worship apologised to members of tho Committee for his change of opinion on this matter. He did not " consider that the, feelings of jealousy by localities in regard to one another wero vory commendable. In conclusion ho moved the following resolution, which, if carried, he thought, would probably do away with the whole trouble: — "'lt is hereby declared to be the intention of the Council that the tramways within the former boundaries of the city of Wellington and the suburban tramways "autiorised and now sought to be authorised, should be worked as one concern, so that the net earnings of the same shall be applied in equal proportions to ,the interest secured on special rates." Councillors Godber, Frost, Winder, Cohen, and M'Laren congratulated -tho Mayor on his proposals. • Councillor Godber agreed with those optimists who held that the extensions of the tramways would prove a paying : investment. He thought separate accounts 03 between city . and suburbs ■would prove more expensive than such a system was worth. Councillpr , Frost , thought the right •note had' been struck- for- securing a good feeling throughout, the city. ""..Councillor, Winder, a^so recognised the impossibility ofr keeping • two accounts, but he desired the Council to remember that aaoffcr.'£2o,oQo7wbuld.be required for the. construction, of the tramway extensions. (Oh's-! and Noes!) But it would bo found to be -so. No provision had • been ••made .for. extra cars, etc., and he thought it would be the wisest course, to recognise this fact now, and get the whole of the money required. The matter should now be' referred to the Tramway Committee fbr a comprehensive and complete report. The Mayor-replied that there was no doubt further moneys would be required for the tramways, but it should not be mixed up with the " present application. There was no pressing necessity for the additional money, and they should wait for an even 'better money , market than the present. Councillor Carmichael reiterated his previous statement that it would be found that less money would- be required -than was- anticipated. . Recent ■ developments went to show that the estimates were not correct.

The Mayor moved to add to his motion the clause {quoted at the beginning of this article) from the Tramway Committee's report, and the whole motion was then carried on the voicesj and the Council rose.