(To the Editor.)

Evening Post, Issue 12, 14 July 1936, Page 16

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—We suggest that correspondents have, ho right to waste your space-arid readers'.time by using incorrect statements, which produce incorrect and misleading inferences. Some of , Dr. Austin's statements can be checked. Measurements are either right or wrong.. He.says the Government Buildings is the central point of the Norway Street and Sydney Street routes. We say the central point is near the Bank of New Zealand, and have checked our statement on a reliable map. We further say that the average tram time from: the bank to Perrett's Corner is 75 ■seconds.'. This is -'authentic and' checked. We have said that the visitor to .Karori from the southern end of the town.has only-to travel 75 seconds longer by the route via Sydney Street than would be necessary if trams turned south at Perrett's Corner;after /passing along Manners Street. This 'route would only be possible if an area were taken at Perrett's Corner at a cost we : would hesitate to name. But if western trams run from Government station to Norway Street, which normal traffic makes necessary, the traveller would change' trams at Perrett's, incurring additional fare, and with more than 75 seconds loss of time. Seeing that Dr.. Austin's distance figures are wrong, all the rest of his juggling with hours, .alleged savings, etc., must be viewed with "distrust. ' ' :

He states we are mostly concerned with Government • Buildings' traffic. That is ; not correct. We are concerned1 with all. western suburbs people for whonY>the western trams run.;. Quoting: Mr. Morton' "the objective on the:city] side will generally be determined by people whose - place of business is of , paramount importance." Our centre.! is-the Post Office and we are as much concerned with our Courtenay Place business people as with any others. They will get to and from work faster, cheaper, and with less inconvenience via Sydney Street . than via Norway Street and Government Buildings, and; all .„ users pur trams in and •' out will' save four minutes per trip on present conditions' via Sydney Street:' We hold a copy of the Access Commission, report. Referring to -Norway Street, its last recommendation, it says: "The Commission does not, however, recommend the construction of a tramway until the volume of traffic warrents it.' We ask, Sir, where does Dr. Austin find "they stated it would have to be done in fifteen years' time." We ask again by what right and. on whose authoritj does he state that many of our people favour Norway Street.

Now this is the crux of the whole matter. Our tramway problem can be solved, in a manner acceptable to the people for whom the system was constructed, at a cost of £27.000, a sum which the council has in hand. The City Council's figures (given under seal) for Norway Street route, are £109,400 (new money) without any provision for street widening, considered necessary and estimated to cost a further £100,000. It is a steep price for the average citizen to pay to bring him 23 chains nearer Karori. —I am, etc.; for the Karori Progressive Association,

N. L. P. DYETT, President,