FREIGHT CAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 150, 26 June 1915, Page 2

FREIGHT CAR

— i* DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL. Some discussion took place at the meeting of the City Council on Thursday As to the freight service carried out by the Tramways Department. The' Tramways Committee, in its report, expressed the opinion that the service should ( be maintained on the basis of providing for the carriage of parcels and luggage for the convenience of citizens, but not for the carriage of goods in bulk. The Mayor said the scheme had be"en brought into operation for the express benefit of tho dwellers in the outlying portions of the city. It had, been of great value in that respect, but it was not intended for tho carriage of goods in bulk. Councillor Bennett criticised the operations of the freight service, which he -regarded as unsatisfactory. He contended that the council was not furnished with a complete return of income and ex* penditure in connection with the service, and that the sooner the service was extended or curtailed the better it would be for the citizens generally. If the council went in properly for the carriage of goods it ought to erect proper premises. Ha was in favour of encouraging the carriage of freight, on the ordinary oars and getting rid of the freight car. Councillor Barber pointed out that the total receipts of tho car for the past year were £713, and the car was only debited .with £221 for wages, He did not con* sider that the accounts had been properly made out, so that the council could Judge whether tho cay was paying o* Mot. Several councillors urged that it would be almost impossible to discover what proportion of tho cost of the tramway* ought to be debited to the freight car, and It was argued that if It was of public utility it should be retained in the service. The report was adopted.