OUR TRAMWAY SYSTEM

Evening Star, Issue 15268, 21 August 1913, Page 7

OUR TRAMWAY SYSTEM

A QUESTION OF IMPROVEMENTS.

BOGIE CARS AND MOTOR BUSES.

A comprehensive motion covering the whole position and future of the Dunedin tramway system was moved in the council last night by Cr Marlow. It read : "That with the view of ascertaining the amount of money required to bring the tramway system up to the requirements of the City, the Tramways Committee be instructed to report on the cost of (1) Reducing the curves sufficiently to enablo bogie cars to run on them; (2) of constructing and equipping sufficient bogie cars to cope effectively with the crush traffic; (3) of purchasing and equipping the requisite number of motor buses to effectively test them as feeders to our system: (4) of the alterations recommended to the car shed, including the necessary cross-overs; and (5) of such duplications and extensions as the committee think likely to be required in the near future." Mr Marlow said that he thought hie motion was wide enough to enable the Iramways Committee.to come bafore the council with a comprehensive scheme of development that would serve Dunedin 'or many years to come. Since the inception ot the trams a large number of works had been put in hand, and the overdraft was something like £20,000. He thought theirs was the only system in New Zealand of which it could bo said that the capital expenditure had gone up bv only £20,000. iJuu as the requirements of the City enlarged the traffic capacity must be enlarged, and ho had tried to make his motion embra.ee only what might be regarded as essential features-of future development. The prime necessity, no doubt, was bigger cars, and the council must either flatten the curves to permit bogie cars to negotiate them, or obtain permission to run them round the present curves under » stipulation that they did J? W on sucb curve*. Again, it was absolutely necessary to tost the efficiency ot the motor bus service, while, lastly, committee to submit a complete report on the requirements of the system Cr Scott seconded. rJ£ e ? < chairm ?n of the Tramwavs Committee) expressed the belief that such a motion was premature, and might delay the use oi the motor buses. He had asked L P" toobtain an ™**™™ vith thei Minister and put before him the tact that, as far as the running of borde cars was concerned, Dunedin had a bipcer area between the tets of rails than there was in ono other city x-hich ran bade cars on a, douole track. When made cognisant of this fact, the Minister might show the same consideration to Dunedin that had been shown to other cities. The committee already knew the cost of cars, of which, in his opinion, three should be used in the first place. As to motor buses, the committee had already recommended that five be purchased, and when the new Act gave them power to run these he wanted to bo in a position to order them at once, which would not be possible if they had to prepare the exhaustive report suggested. Finally, Cr Myers dealt with the clauses concerning extensions and alterations. The cost of most of such developments was, ho said, within the knowledge of the committee, and the flattening of tho curve at Cargill's Corner might necessitate taking land under tho Public Works Act—a long process. He thought they would be acting prematurely in carrying this motion. Cr Clark said that it appeared to him that the strongest argument in favor of tho motion -was the speech of Cr Myers. If the committee had the estimates" and information required, it was in piecemeal form, and it would not hamper them to tabulate this information for the benefit of the council and the citizens.

Cr Marlow, in reply, dealt first with Cr Myers's proposal to approach the Government, assuring the council that he himself had represented the council in Wellington on tramway matters, and had been lolcl emphatically that because the Government had made mistakes in other cities in tho past they were not going to perpetuate them. If they had allowed a double lino to run down a narrow street in other cities, they were not going to sanction it in this City. With regard to the Gardens t'.nd Forbury corners, they might get round easily enough, but Carcill Corner would bo more difficult, and because it was so difficult Cr Myers apparently thought they should leavo the thing for a while. It was for that very reason that they should really go on with" the preliminaries of the work.

The motion was carried, the voting hemp: For—Crs Sinclair, Marlow, Cble, Todd, Black, Hayward, Scott, Clark, and Small; against—Crs Hancock, Green, Beirg, and Myers. THE ROSLYN TRAMS. Cr Black moved, in accordance with notice of motion—"That the Tramways Committee be instructed to inquire into and report upon (1) the advisability and possibility of seeming the Roslyn 'tramways; (S) the cost of acquiring same; and (3) the cost of running motor buses to act as-feeders to the same." He hoped that the motion would ho carried; and "that the committee would go into the matter thoroughly, because it was of great importance to the welfare of the City. The ward served (Roslyn) was practically one-eighth of the population of the whole of Greater Dunedin. He understood that the owners of the tramway companies were quite agreeable to sail. It wa.s a matter of price. The expiry date of the Kaikorai Company was 1917, four years from now. and one reason he advanced for the motion being carried, was that it was a good basinets proposition, because the population was there. 2\o motor buses would be required. He was sure that the tramway companies would not look for an exorbitant price. Another reason why the council should consider the purchase of these trams was that Mornington was increasing very rapidly in population at the expense of that portion of the City called Roslyn Ward. The question of overcrowding was still another reason why they were likely, to sell. lie added that £76.000 was the book valuation of the two Roslyn tram companies, and said that if the- council were to buy both of them they would be able to give the people better facilities. Cr Hayward seconded the motion. The residents of Roslyn would be benefited considerably if tho City Corporation .owned the cars. It would mean cheaper faxes and give Roslyn a good send along. Or Clark said that Cr Black said that the tram people were; willing to sell, and because they were willing to do eo he expected the City to open negotiations with them. His object was that if the City acquired them Roslyn woidd get cheaper rides than any other part of the City. Cr Black: Where do ycu get that from? Cr Green thought that it would bo much better if the matter was delayed. He did not see any reason for any immediate hurry.

The motion was lost by 7 votes to 6, the voting being:— For—Ore Sinclair, Marlow, Black, Hayward, Scott, and Myers • against—Crs Cole, Hancock, Todd, Green, Begg, Clark, and W 7 ilson.