MIRAMAR COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 11, 12 July 1912, Page 3

MIRAMAR COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE

FERRY SERVICES SUGGESTED. The proposal of the City Council to raise the tramway fares was considered j by; the Miramar Council last evening. Members , of that body generally, while disclaiming any desire to dictate to 'the City Council in regard .to its tramway policy, were strongly opposed to any increase on tho lines serving Miramar and Seatoun, as inimical to the best interests of the borough. The matter was raised by the Mayor (Mr. H. N. M'Leod), who said the revision of tramway fares in the direction of an increase was a very , vital question for the borough of Miramar. The borough was the largest _ customer for. the city cervices. It paid Is. per car-mile for the service, and, in addition, residents of the borough had , to' pass over the city lines, averaging two sections each way, as well as paying one penny on the borough line. A very large revenue | wae derived by the city from residents in the borough of Miramar, as well a« from people who visited Seatoun and Miramar, especially' in the summer. Miramar and Seatoun residents.- had already shown that they felt seriously disturbed by the prospect of the City Council charging an additional one penny on the sections serving the borough. If an extra Id fare were put on by the City Council, he feared that ■ many of the residents of .the. borough would leave, and the revenue of the borough would go down, and then the 'borough would probably have to reduce its oar running. People would, again, probably walk a section or take to cycling. But, whatever happened, one thing -was certain, Miramar Borough would be a financial sufferer by any increase in tram fares. The now tax would impose upon families an additional burden of 2s to 3s a week, and he doubted if there were many families' who could stand that. He thought that the Borough Council must, if the fares were raised, face the probability | of reduced revenue, and be prepared to meet it. Property certainly would decline in value, for rente and tramfares were regarded by residents as one and the same thing in' this connection. The borough was not, however, absolutely in the hands of the City Council in the matter of tramway transit. There might be other means of gettiffg in and out of the cityj but, if other means were resorted to, then tho revenue of the city would suffer. The welfare of /the borough was bound up in cheap transit, and anything tho council could do to bring that about would be a great bohefit to tho .district). While he had no wish to criticise the action of the corporation, he would point out that the borough had every right to show what the efl'ect of dearer fares would bo upou its own revenue , and welfare. Councillor Telford then gave notice to inovo: "That in the ..event of the City Corporation adopting tho proposed alteration of sections from pourtenay-place to the City Boundary, this council considers the advisability of establishing a cheaper means of transit by connecting tho present tramways with tho wharves at Miramar and Seatoun." Councillor Grigg drew attention to 'some of the sufferings to which Seatoun and Miramar residents were subject to on the tramways. Ho had seen tho smoking compaitment, for example, tilled up with college boys (having Bohool ticket*, of course), while men coming homo from work haa to go elsewhere, when, in fact, I they were not put off the car altogether because of it being too full, as it often was. But there sat tho boys, small and large, in the smoking compartments. Ho believed the Tramway Board would, however, attend to that matter on its attention being directed to it. He strongly advocated water service, with access to the three wharves, provided by tho borough's own tramways. That, at' least, would do away with the discomforts of tramway travel during "rush" hours, lie thought the Ferry Company could and wou'djjut on good services if it saw that the people wero there to bo carried. Tho population had grown since the service was cut down to its present proportions. He, thought,' too, that tho cost of 'the boat service would be cheaper than' by car as at present. It, would' certainly bo more comfortable. If the water traffic grew, as ho thought it would, the borough might find it advantageous to. havo-a service of Us own. Councillor Bowio regretted that the Miramar Borough had parted with its section to Kilbimio to the City Council, 1 c-*kc -*k uo.w; it tfould be gble J& command^

fcho Lyall Bay and Kilbirnie traffic. He favoured ihe boat proposal. There were throe good wharvos in the borough, and all that was needed vra» access to\thotn from the more distant parts of' the borough, and, of cour&e, a more frequent 6orvice. Councillor Tolfbrd observed that the question of overcrowding (he trams would always be a burning' one and'difficult of solution. By the boat, however, . passengers'* would got a comfortable seat and sufficient- breathing space. * H© moved: "That the matter be, left' in tho hands of ' the Tramway Committee, to take such action as seems desirable with reference to waiting upon the City Council and explaining the views of, the borough on the proponed alteraHoils in sections on the city lines." This was seconded by Councilor Stone, and carried.