BOWEN STREET ROUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 102, 27 October 1931, Page 8

BOWEN STREET ROUTE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —One word from the Prime Minister and the Mayor's case was shattered. The Mayor stated that "modern trains were inlinitely more silent than the motoromnibus." The Prime Minister retoroted: "Would you say that about the trams that run along Willis street," alid the Mayor replied: "'AVe would build special trains for the western access route." This point must be laced by tho ratepayers. New cars must bo built. That is the Mayor's solution, and it would seem as i£ all the councillors are 'in agreement with this policy—excepting one. When the Mayor first presented the case for the western? access he stated it was to cost only £24,000. What about the cost now? I am quite certain £75,001) would not meet the bill. Why does the Mayor not take the public into his confidence and give all the facts? .Will the Mayor answer the following:—(1) The cost of laying the proposed track and whether it is to be a single or a double track? (2) The cost of the overhead reticulation? (3) The number of new ears to be built specially for this route and the cost of these "noiseless" cars? (4) Is it not a fact that maintenance on a tortuous route is double that of a straight run? (5) Would it not be so in the case of the new proposed deviation? (6) Is the roadway sufficiently wide to allow of -a double track if it was found to be necessar and if not would the council have to acquire properties %long the route? (7) What effect will the increased traffic have on the Bowen street hospital and its patients? Ratepayers and the public \^ill require to be very chary about accepting the council's judgments. The Hataitai tunnel is a case in point. It is a most unfortunate and expensive blunder. This "white elephant" is costing the ratepayers £37 per day in interest and upkeep, and on to of that there is the serious loss of revenue from the fact that Hataitai residents prefer to walk through the tunnel. Thousands of people use the tunnel morning and evening. Before this new deviation is agreed to the greatest care should be taken that all the facts are presented and nothing loft to chance. Ratepayers by this time must be quite aware of the after-effects of blundering. The Mayor and councillors would show wisdom and foresight if they held this deviation question over until the depression is past If Karori's residents must have a quicker route, Bowen street is not the solution, but only an aggravation.—l am, etc., REFORMER.