TRAMS V. BUSES

Evening Star, Issue 22919, 29 March 1938, Page 3

TRAMS V. BUSES

THE KAIKGRAI PROPOSAL CLAUSE REFERRED BACK A lengthy discussion took place at the City Council meeting last night concerning the clause in the Tramways and the Finance Committees reports dealing with the proposal to take over the control of the Kaikorai Tramway Company's plant at the termination of the company's- lease and utilise buses instead of trams. After Or Batchelor and Cr Silverstone, the respective chairmen, had moved the adoption of their committees' reports, several councillors expressed their opinions, the consensus of such opinions being that the taking over oi control of the service at present maintained by the company was highly desirable. Some councillors/ however, considered that final consideration of the clause might he deferred until the next mooting of the council, and this opinion was strengthened when the mayor revealed certain information which, ho said, was in the possession of the committee. Finally, when the question, reference to which continued, like that of King Charles’s head, to bob up in the midst of discussions in renewal funds and reserve funds and such, had been thoroughly thrashed out, an amendment which had been moved by Cr Shepherd and seconded. “ with a good deal of diffidence/’ by Cr Begg, was put to the council. The voting was even, but the mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the amendment. It was Cr Cameron who first expressed doubts concerning the suitability of buses for service on the hills, where there were steep grades and narrow streets. He would like, he said, to have further details as to what, route was proposed, what street widening would be necessary, and what would be the actual cost of putting buses on. A PECULIAR TUMOUR. Cr Batchelor said that he had travelled a good deal of late on the buses in Wellington, and they operated on far steeper grades than those likely to be encountered on the Maori Hill routes. He would like to ask the man of the committee, he added, whether the company would have tbe power to cease running the cars before its lease had expired, as he had heard that the company might do so and tear up the lines and dismantle things generally before the city took over. Cr Batchelor assumed Cr Camenon that the tramways manager would bring down a satisfactory peport when the time came, and that bukes would be able to radiate from one point along quite a number of roads, which would be far more convenient to the residents than the present tramway system.

Or Alien thought it a pity that such an important matter should be rushed through council. The company, he said, had done very valuable work in the past in developing the city, but he was not in favour of renewing the lease, as he agreed with Cr Silverstone that all tram and bus services should be unified under the contrpl of the council. Still, a spirit of sweet reasonableness might be imparted into the question, said Cr Allen, and he deprecated smfh statements as those made by Cr Batchelor. The company was not at all likely to act in the manner suggested by Cr Batchelor, who should keep to facts and not voice rumours. Or Allen added that he thought that the council should confer with the company and ascertain the probable life of the plant, and. if there appeared to be a few years of life left, negotiations might be set up with a view to purchasing the interest in that plant. IMPORTANT DETAILS. The Mayor said he agreed that it would be desirable to hold over tlib matter embodied in the clause dealing with the resolution to give notice to the company of the council’s intention not to renew the lease. The matter of calling for tenders might stand. With regard to the suggestion that buses would not be suitable for the bill routes, His Worship said that this had been proved during the past 12 months to be a fallacy. Ruses had been run on certain routes on Sundays, and the revenue had increased by 21 per cent., whereas the tram service on the Mornington line had increased by only 4 per cent, on Sundays. “ I know something of the comfort of a bus seat as compares! with hanging to a strap in the trams,” said His Worship. Bega-'il-ing the idea put forward shy Cr Allen that negotiations might be set up with a view to purchasing plant from the company, it had been reported chat the company had been run at a loss of £42 last year. If it was running at a loss now, it was highly probable that it would be running at a greater loss in the future. This being so, why should the city take over a loss? The Mayor went on to say that he would now give some important information which would throw further light on the matter. The tramways manager, he said, had reported to the committee that he could provide 10 buses for the ißoslyn line to meet all trie circumstances, all the needs of peak periods, and which would pay interest, sinking fund, and renew ils on £25,000. The sum of £30.000. the original cost of the purchase ot the Boslyn line, which had never boon paid off and was never likely to ha. conM also he taken into consideration, and interest and sinking fund on this amount also could he provided for. These details should have been before the council, and for this reason he con.-tdor'-d that the clause mentioned shouio be rield over pending the presentation of details.

Cr Shepherd, said he would move on those lines: That the clause be referred back for further details to be nrovided by the tramways manager. Cr Begg said that he would second the amendment, but with a good deal of diffidence, because he thought that it should go a hit. further and provide for the matter to be dealt with by the new council. He agreed, however, that tenders might be called ; that could do no harm. The company, he said, had been given to understand 20 years ago when the lease was renewed that there would he no further renewal. Or Harrison asked the chairman what notice was necessarv to give the company if the council decided not to renew the lease. CHAIRMAN REPLIES. Cr Silvevstono, in reply to Cr Batchelor, said that if the deed wore drawn as most deeds were, the, company could not cease running before the lease' expired, if it did, the council could take over and charge any loss

incurred to the cornany. Ho did not think for a moment, however, that the company would act in the way that had been suggested to Cr Batchelor. To Cr Harrison! the chairman replied that it was not necessary to give any notice of intention not to renew. . . Cr Silverstone expressed surprise that councillors should raise the Question of referring the clause back. F.very one of them had agreed that unification of the system was necessary. Cr Alien, he said, did not seem to know whether he was for or against the scheme. He was not prepared to take the clause back, ns it would make no difference in the end. On being put to the vote, the amendmen*’ was carried on the casting vote of the mayor.