THE TRAMWAYS LOAN

Evening Star, Issue 15516, 11 June 1914, Page 7

THE TRAMWAYS LOAN

CONSIDERATION DEFERRED.

At last idght’s meeting of the City Council the Finance Committee reported: The committee have received from the

Tramways Committee a proposal recommending that, steps be taken forthwith to obtain the consent of the ratepayers to borrow a sum of £50.000 for the purposes set forth below, and beg to ask for instructions from the council with respect to same:—Remodelling 14 saloon cars to increase their accommodation by 504 passengers, £6,440; building six additional care, £9,0C0; alterations, to car sheds, £3.320; motor buses i three!, £4,000; extensions. £2.250: 10 per cent, to cover contingencies, interest oh portion of expenditure durinn first year, and cost of fafeng loan. £4,990; total, £30,000. Cr Myers said that the most serious problem the Tramways Committee had had to. consider was the question of complying with the late legislation and the new regulations to provide adequate rolling stock The committee gave the matter full consideration, and decided to recommend that the 14 saloon cars be altered, so as to give them a larger carrying capacity. These saloon cars had a carrying capacity now of 59 according to the new regulations, but by altering them they would have a carrying capacity of 75. The alterations to these cars Would cost £460 each, while a new car to build would cost £1,500. In addition to the alterations to the saloon cars they would require to purchase six new cars of the bogy type, with a capacity of providing for 84 passengers. These cars approximatelv would cost £1.500 each, or £9,000 altogether, and with the £6,440 for remodelling the 14 saloon cars, they had a sum of £15,440. If it was decided to alter the saloon cars and also build new cars, it would l>e imperative that they should alter the t ram sheds-to accommodate the extra cars. It was the committee's intention to have the alterations done at the car sheds, and to call for alternative tenders for the new cars —that was for the iron work and body work separately. In connection with the running of the new cars, it- would be necessary to alter some of the curves. That matter had been placed in the hands of the city engineer, and it would have to be definitely decided before anything was done in respect to the rolling stock and providing new cats. These cars were badly wanted. In fact, they would have to lie got. The committee also asked for £4.000 for motor buses. With such buses tliey could try Opoho and some other suburbs, to see whether a tramway couid bo run to those places at a profit. , Cr Marlow seconded the motion i6r the adoption of -the report. The new regulations made it imperative that they should deal with the tramway system immediately. The alterations to the car sheds were juet- as essential as the alterations to the cars. The proposed now cars would enable them to deal with the traffic at crush hours. Ho had moved repeatedly to get these cars altered, and they had been told it was not possible. He was now delighted to find that plans brought forward showed that it was possible. The alternative io it was to " scrap ” their cars. They were troubled with dense traffic at meal times and when the theatres:ame out. If they were to go to the ratepayers now and ask their opinion as to the loan, it would bo a considerable time before they could get things working, and there was no time for delay. Extensions could stand over. Motor buses could be used to test new car routes, and instead of putting down a line to the racecourse, they could be run t-o connect the trams with tbe course. He would urge councillors, if they did object to any one item, to move that that item be struck out, rather than that the whole matter should be delayed. Cr Hancock said ho had no objection to the report with the exception of one item, and he moved as an amendment-" “ That the item of motor buses be struck nut, and that the sum £4,000 for the same be added to the £2,250 for extensions.’’ Cr Hayward seconded the amendment, because he thought that the item “motor buses ” was the weak link in the commitlee’s proposals. It was a well-known fact that where these buses had been tried in the colonies they had proved a failure. Cr Clark said that they had the statement that it was impossible to do anything until tie question of the curves was fixed. The Government might refuse to accept their system of curves, and he thought {hat the council would be very ill-advised io authorise the borrowing of this money until the' question of the curves was definitely settled and they had received full particulars as to how the sum was made np. Cr Black said that at- present he was sure that the council would want to know more about the cost, for example, and when the cars would be delivered, before they sanctioned this. As for conditions to the carsheds to accommodate the new cars and motor cars, he himself was of opinion that they might well have two sheds—and not put all their eggs in one basket, losing all in case of fire. At all events, they wanted definite information, and all particulars certified to by one of their experts. Cr Scott supported the motion. Ho Brought that the £4,000 should be spent »n buses as advocated. If the council did not as a council have these buses, a company would be found to start opposition along the main streets, and where such company would score would be in conveying to the places for which these motor buses were asked. This company or companies would bo abi?- to carry the people cheaper than could be done by trolly traction.

Cr Begg, in supporting the motion, said that be hoped the new cars would be turned out quicker than the last three or tbtsr had been. The sooner the alterations ■ were put in hand the better. The Mayor said that, quite Independent of the proposed, regulations, some attempt should be made to mitigate the overcrowding which occurred at times on the cars, and which, in respect of tho Roslyn cars, had been the subject of a leading article in the ‘Star’ that very evening. The only item on the sheet that he would vote against was the £4,000 for motor buses. It was only duplicating the mistake of small cars that had been made previously. It had been said that tfaege motor buses would not be bound by Order-in-Council, and could leave their route to serve any special need, such as the racecourse, Brighton, etc. But once these buses were allotted a route it would be found that they would have to keep to It—public opinion would enforce it. Furthermore, the road to Opoho would, have to be altered to accommodate such buses. It was not to be doubted that if the cars ■were not now enlarged they would have k> be put on the scrap heap, for no other rity would buy them. Cr Myers, m reply, spoke particularly on the curves. The great expense would, be at CargilTs corner, where property ■would have to be got. The committee had got yet official word that the curves would panged, but the speaker had reason to believe that they would-be favorably considered. As for buses, he thought the Opoho people had the right to get some conveyance to their district, given under such conditions that if the venture did not pay it could be taken away and the buses used for other purposes.. F< r himself, he was perfectly convinced that the use of buses to run to the racecourse and sports grounds would pay. Or Hancock’s amendment was lost, the voting being:—For: Crs Cole, Wilson, Hancock, Todd, and Hayward. Against: Crs Sullivan, Marlow, Black, Menzies. Green, Begg, Scott, Clark, Small, and Myers. Cr Sullivan moved, as an amendment—- “ That th® clause be held over until next meeting, »d that councillors be supplied with a copy of the Town Clerk’s and tramways manager’s report of May 19 and the tramways manager’s minute of June 2.” Cr Sullivan said that in the former joint report Messrs Lewiu and Alexander stated that some of the schemes mooted, while perhaps desirable under normal conditions, were of a somewhat experimental nature, and in view of the fact that the recent legislative restriclirns on the service were so-drastic, and must have a very serious effect on the earning power of the department during the next few years, they ven- - iured the # opinion that the greatest pru■deuce was required before embarking .upon any other extensive capital expenditure.

at all events until the full effect of the changes which were forced npon them had been ascertained. This was the report of two officers most competent to judge Of the matter, and yet further extensions were asked for, though no information had been given as to where these eitehsions were to be. For the information Of the council htf might say that the 14 cars would in all occupy two years in the making—one every seven weeks. Cr Monties, who seconded this amendment. said that the greatest prudence should be exercised by the council before committing themselves to the proposed expenditure, especially as two of their responsible officers had made it known to the council that some of the items now proposed were not absolutely ■'necessary. Cr Todd, in speaking to the amendment, said that'the only exception he took to the report was the spending of £4,000 on motor buses. Cr Myers said that a fortnight’s delay was of no consequence, but at tbe same time the sooner they approached the rate- j payers the better. He hoped that tailors would look upon the whole thing from a business point of view. Cr Small said that if the proposals were put before the ratepayers with the information now available they would be turned down immediately. He would support the amendment. Cr Creep raid that all they asked was whether councillors considered the tramways system up to date or not, and whether additional capital was required. Surely the committee could be trusted in a matter of this kind.

Cr Clark said that their own experts told them that certain preliminary works must be done before they really knew where they were. The Mayor said that if the report went through in its entirety each item would come Before the council later on.

Cr Sullivan’s amendment was carried, the voting being:—For: Crs Sullivan, Cole, Wilson, Hancock. Todd, Black, Menzies, Hayward, Clark, and Small. Against: Crs Marlow, Green, Begg, Scott, and Mvsrs.