TO THE WEST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1931, Page 10

TO THE WEST

A SHORTER ROUTE

BOWEN STREET PROPOSAL

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT

The much-discussed question whether trams should be allowed to proceed up Bowen street and along Museum street to Sydney street, thus providing for a shorter route to the western suburbs, was again brought under tho notice of tho Government to-day by a largo deputation representing the Wellington City Council and various civic associations, which waited upon tho Prime Minister (tho Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes). The deputation requested that the Government should issue an Order-in-Council approving of the new route, and the Prime Minister agreed to discuss the wholo matter with his colleagues.

Tho deputation was introduced by Mr. B. A. Wright, M.P., who stressed, the economic waste that would result if tho issuing of the Oi'dcr-in-Couuci! ] were further delayed. Ho asked the Prime Minister to exercise the great influence he possessed with his colleagues. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. 0. A. Hislop) said ho represented all tho members of the City Council with nno exception, and ho also represented n very large number of civic organisations. In ten days they had been ablo to secure 6000 signatures to a petition asking for an Ordcr-in-Couneil, and that number could have been very considerably increased had there been more timo at their disposal. The conditions normally governing the issue of hii Ordcr-in-Couneil in respect of a new tramway route were those of its safety and general utility, but in. the case of tho present route another consideration arose —that of possible interference with tho amenities of Parliament House. It had been previously decided by the Government not to issue an Ordcr-in-Council, and for t!iat_ reason they desired to ascertain the minds of the present Government on the subject before they made any progress with the preparation of plans and so on. LITTLE DISTURBANCE. Mr. Hislop said he was satisfied from inquiries ho had made that the new rout.o would result in very little disturbance to Parliament. The now tramway line would be built under .the most modern and up-to-date methods, and special cars would bo placed on the route to avoid noise as far as possible. He fedt confident that if the .matter was referred to a committee o£ experts there would be absolutely no objection on the score of noise, as it had been conclusively proved that the modern car was more silent than the motor bus.

The Prime Minister remarked that Willis street aud Lamb ton quay were nbout the noisiest streets in New Zealand on account of the tramcars.

Mr. Hislop pointed out that tho old type,of car was running in those streets, which were narrow, and tho high buildings on cither side confined the sound. The council would be quite prepared to abide by any reasonable restrictions which tho Public Works Department might lay down. Tho engineer iv chief of the Department, Mr. I'urkert, had told him that he was perfectly satisfied he could lay down restrictions which would eliminate any reasonable objection there could be on tho ground of noise. "I do feel satisfied," said Mr. Hislop, "that tho fear of noise is illusory." He asked that before any decision was reached the matter should receive the most careful attention of oxpert engineers. A BIG SAVING. The matter was one qf great importance to the whole of Wellington, said Mr. Hislop, as for years past tliero had been an urgeut necessity for improving the access to the western suburbs. The Commission which tho council had set up had recommended the cemetery route, but he was satisfied that under present economic conditions that would be right out of the question, as tho cost to complete that route would be £75,000. To complete tho Bowen strcot-Musouin street route would cost only £24,000, and that sum was held in tho special reserves of tho tramway department.

In consequence, there would be no extra charge on the ratopayors. The saving to the Tramways Department would be at least £2000 a year in overhead running expenses, and there would be a saving of 73,000 running car miles per year. In addition, the now_ route would relieve tho present congestion on the Molcsworth street route and the route to Wadestown. Mr. Hislop made jt plain that there ivas no desire on the part of the council to avoid the statutory right of ratepayers to hold a poll on the question, and if 5 per cent, of tho ratepayers mado application for such a poll it would bo held. Some objection had been raised to the routo oe tho score that it would interfero with the delicate work carried out in the Government laboratory, but ho was assured that there would bo less vibration when the tramway was put down than there was now, on account of the fact that a macadam surface would be laid down in place of the present tarsealed surface. Dr. Marsden had also assured him that ho would have- no objection to the tramway.

VIEW OF RESIDENTS.

On behalf of the Ratepayers' Associations of Karori and Northland, and on behalf of the residents of the western suburbs generally, Mr. S. 35. Lambert urged tho Government to place no obstacle in tho way of tho proposals. Tho residents of tho western suburbs had •been labouring for many years under very great disabilities in regard to transport, and the rapid growth of tho population during the last two or three years had accentuated the problem. The <rars at present -were grossly overcrowded, and long waits on loop lines were frequent. At times as many as five tramcars woro negotiating a loop. The provision of a double line over the proposed shorter route would enable the department to provide a quicker, moro economical, and moro satisfactory service, as well as releasing a number of cars now required. The residents of the western suburbs looked confidently to tho Government to assist them in obtaining a satisfactory solution to a problem which had confronted them and I ho city authorities for so long. THE GOVERNMENTS POWERS. In replying, tho Prime Minister said that the question had been before Governments a good many times. Ho. had had a request from a ratepayers' association, that he should hear objections to the new route, and ho had arranged to receive a deputation on that subject ■next week. It was on the score of noise that objections to tho route had been raised in Parliamentary circles. It was said that the Government had very wide powers in regard to tho issuo of Orders-iu-Council, but; there were times when that power had been exercised for tho benefit of the citizens. Ho instanced the time when a proposal had been made1 thai; tramcars should run through instead of around tho Basiu Reserve. That matter had been referred to a Parliamentary Committee of which he had boon, a member, and 1 lie Committee had decided —ho thought wisely—against the proposal. lie underlook to discuss the matter with his colleagues, and also with others who were interested. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was in charge of the amenities of Parliament, had certain views on tho subject, and. wrald haw to be consulted.