THE CITY TRAMWAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 10332, 4 June 1897, Page 1

THE CITY TRAMWAYS.

: Tiik. Subject, of theiiteatawAysocoupied the [ attend' ttf the City Council for some time *lj' the meeting on Wednesday evening. The question of authorising the present company to transfer their property and interests to a syndicate prepared to j carry* Out-the service on an improved system is one which, to use a vulgarism, seems to get "no forrarder." One projected scheme, -which at the time I looked promising, fell through on 'account of the unreasonable delay of the Government in taking the legal steps necessary, in order that electric traction might be used; and now the Council would v appear to be contemplating going back on their tracks in regard to the agreement provisionally arrived at between Captain CiiADocic and the City and dispoMUt to blame the Council foroxerciaw'g extreme caution in a matter of ttuich moment to the citizens ; but . delay is demonstratively being piled upon delay in coming to % a decision upon points in question, whilst a councillor has taken the preliminary steps for reopening the whole matter by moving the rescinding of the resolution approving of the concessions to the Otago Syndicate as to the terms and conditions of tenure. Captain Oradock, naturally enough, has got restive, and notified the Council yesterday that his negotiations are " off." There is something to be said in justification of'the dilatory conduct of the Council, in that & shade at least of mystification hanss p-nr the personality of those who are toea.;, ...c for the concessions. It is not known whvu. --r the Syndicate are composed of substantial men, able and ready to take up the tram service and initiate improvements infraction methods and otherwise foithwith, or whether a ring of speculators propose to secure the concessions and trade away the whole property to a foreign company, pocketing a handsome bonus as promoters. Councillor Carkoll. voiced a very general impression when ho said straight out that there was " something about the proposal " between Captain Cradock. and the Tram "Company that he did not like. There " had never been any plain-statement yet "submitted to the Council which their " mempffls as business men could agree to, " and they had never beard when the work "was jp begin, or when the new system " was to commence." To this it might be replied that so soon as the Otago Syndicate, or any other new company, take over the tram service it will be to their interest to conduct such service under paying conditions as soon as possible, and to this effect the improvements would no doubt be hurried on. It will, however, be desirable that there should bo efficient guarantees that the engagements entered into will be fulfilled, and that there should be no speculative holding for an indefinite period,' with a view to sub-letting or transfer. It must not be lost sight of by the Council that the present state of things in regard to the City and Suburban Tramways cannot continue for an indeterminate period ; and tlAt it L,..*s Councillor Hayxes declared, their duty to consider the convenience ana interests of the citizens, which would be seriously affected should there be a suspension of tram services—a contingency not to be regarded as impossible under existing circumstances. If the Syndicate did what they had promised, the same councillor said, "it would be advantageous to the City, " and it was the duty of the Council, to " help them in every way." It was presumably with this view of the duty of the Council that Councillor Mouat brought forward his resolution to the effect that the Syndicate should not bo bound down to obtain the supply of gas for their motors from the Corporation gasworks. In moving the resolution Councillor Mouat. declared that the duty of the Council was to be fair to the Syndicate as well as to the citizens, and not to impose terms which would practically bar the improvement of the present tram system j nor should the Council, he implied, although he did not say so in exact words, play the " dog in the manger" in regard to the tramways, and, not being in a position to undertake the service themselves, impose difficulties in the way of private enterprise. It was quite clear, he said, (that the Corporation could not supply gas to the Syndicate for motive power at such a price as to make a profit, and at the same time enable the service to yield remunerative returns, considering the large amount of capital which would have to be expended. If the Syndicate could by any means obtain their gas cheaper than the Council could afford to supply it, no obstacle should be thrown in the way. It would be unwise, he said, to sacrifice the establishment of an improved tramway system for the sake of problematically enlarged gas It had heen the practice of the Council for years' to sweat the gas consumers for the benefit of the general revenue. We shall »ot at present refer to the debate which ensued, and which stands adjourned ; but Ave note a suggestion by Councillor Gore AVhich is distinctly worthy of attention. If there was a gas to be manufactured, lie said, " such as water gas or acetylene gas, "at a less cost than coal gas, he did not "see why the Council should not allow >' the citizens to derive the benefit of it" through an improved and cheap tram service.