CALLING THE TUNE

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1922, Page 4

CALLING THE TUNE

THE WAY TO KARORI AND

NORTHLAND

BIG DEPUTATION TO CITY

COUNCIL

WHAT OF THE RAROA-ROAD

ROUTE?

A big deputation of Northland and Karori residents, together with representatives of the Civic League, waited upon the City Council last night and urged the need for a shorter tramway route to the districts mentioned: The deputation asked, first,, that the City Council should purchase the Kelburn cable tramway j second, that the electric trams should run across Kelburn; and, third, that the tramway system should be' extended from the Karori tunnel to Northland.

.The deputation was introduced by Councillor J. Burns, who commented upon the " admirable patience " of the outlying districts. The district^ represented by the deputation had waited for years for a shorter route from the city, and the residents believed that they had a sympathetic council. He quoted from the report of the Special Tramways Committee, showing that the committee and the officers of the department were by no means unanimous regarding the Ra-roa-road route. :

Mr. F. W. Manton, of tbo Northland Eatepayers' Association, said that that night's deputation was the second which had ventilated the subject under review., The residents regretted that nothing had been done to provide a shorter route to Northland and Karori. The views of the deputation were best summed Sup at a recent combined meeting, which passed the following motion: — "(1) That, owing to the serious disability under which Northland residents have been labouring for years past, this meeting strongly advocates the construction of the' Northland extension at the earliest possible date, and in the meantime that a suitable motor service be provided to connect with the Kelburn tram. (2) That this meeting of Northland and Karori representatives requests the City Council, for the purpose of getting quicker access to Northland and Karori, to take immediate steps towards the purchase of the Kelburn tram, and to lay the rails to Northland across Kelburn, via the junction of Karori and Northland TRAMS VIA KELBURN. Mr. Manton said that the Northland and Karori people were astounded when the loan proposals provided for a tramway via Raroa-road. They wanted a tram via Kelburn, and urged the council to act in that direction immediately. From a practical, economical point of: view a tramway via Kelburn was the best in the interests of the residents. It had been stated that unless Northland and Karori took the Raroa-road route they would have nothing. The Mayor: "That was never stated iat the council." Mr. Manton: "It has appeared in the press. "- The Mayor: "We are not responsible for it, anyhow." ■ Karori and Northland were "absolutely determined" that the tramway should be via Kelburn. '.'We are going to take a stand now and for all time," he said. "We pay the piper, and we are going to call the tune." He asked the council to give' the matter very serious consideration. MORE ECONOMICAL ROUTE. Mr. W. T. Hildreth, president of the Karori Progress Association, said he thought that the council realised that the deputation had a just cause. He urged, in the first place, the immediate purchase of the Kelburn tramway. The residents would. not urge any scheme which would increase profits of a private company. At the present time it took as long to go to Karori as it took to go to Pj^one, although, the distance to Karori was much 'shorter.-1 That fact alone:should appeal to*the council, quite apart from the huge saying to be effected if a shorter route were provided. AN AWKWARD POINT. On j behalf of the Civic League, Mr. D. M'Laren supported the arguments of the previous sneakers, and stated that the proposals had been endorsed at a full meeting of the league, which was attended by representatives of all parts of the city. The Mayor: "I would be glad, Mr. M'Laren, if you could show us how1 we are to get over this point: The ratepayers approved of the Raroa-road scheme, and how was the decision to be avoided?" Mr. M'Laren said he was not prepared to answer that question right away. It was recognised that the council had a difficulty to overcome, but was there not a possibility that the whole question would be reviewed by the council? He believed that the Raroa-road decision was, speaking generally, reached somewhat hurriedly. He asked the council to reconsidei the matter now, and give' the residents something more to their liking. ' . ■ ' • ' • Councillor Fraser: "Would the deputation be willing to take a chance? Would they agree to the council dropping the Raroa-road proposition and submitting a new proposal to the ratepayers?" Mr. Hildreth: "Yes, we would." MrHildreth corrected a statement which had been published in connection with the Kelburn proposals. ..The members of tho deputation estimated that the cost of laying the trams across Kelburn would be £22,000. The deputation could not possibly estimate the cost to the city of the purchase of the Kelburn tramway. REVIEW OF POSITION PROMISED. The Mayor, in reply, said he was very glad that the difficulty confronting the council ha_d been grappled with. The council dare not divert the vote far Raroa-road tramway, but it need not spend the money, and could -.eek authority for a new loan for a new scheme. That difficulty was the cause of the matter. The councillors realised the need for a shorter route to Karori, and were anxious to meet the wishes of the residents. After all, they were only the trustees of the people. The first essential etep, if the council decided to fall in with the ideas of the deputation, would be to purchase the Kelburn tramway. The council had the whole matter in hand, and would review the Raroaroad proposition in due course. He felt sure that the deputation would further induce the council to proceed along the path which had been marked out, and see whether it was not possible to find a shorter route to Karori.