KAIKORAI TRAMS

Evening Star, Issue 24990, 8 October 1943, Page 2

KAIKORAI TRAMS

PBWOSEB REPLACEMENT BY BUSES TRANSPORT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS With the object of converting the Octagon-Kaikorai cable tram service to a bus service, the Transport Committee has recommended the purchase of five additional passenger vehicles, the order to be placed now so that the earliest possible delivery may be obtained before or after the end of the war. The report of the Transport Committee states: —The condition of the Kaikorai ■ cable system, its prospective life and the ccrtaiuty that the present abnormal cost of renewals can at most only postpone substantial expenditure for major replacements of plant for a relatively short period, has compelled the committee to review the whole question of the future of this service as a matter of urgency. The system was purchased in 1939, and at that time it was estimated that the steam plant and boilers could be regarded as having a remaining life of two years. That the estimate was fairly correct is evidenced by the heavy outlav at the power station and on the tracks that the department has been compelled to face to keep the plan running. There appears to be no doubt but that the system has reached the end of its economic life, and it is essential, therefore, that the department be in a position to ensure that an adequate passenger service shall be available for the districts served by the tramway in anticipation of the present plant going out of commission at an early date. In the opinion of the committee it would be a mistake to incur heavy capital expenditure for the purpose of restoring and maintaining the present cable system. The extensive development of the residential area at Wakari cannot be reasonably served by the tramway* and the continuation of a service which necessitates a change of vehicles for a large and growing proportion of the passengers could not be justified on any reasonable ground.

The alternative lies in the provision of a bus .service which would operate between the city and Kaikorai, and as such a service has been already operating successfully for a considerable period to relieve the strain on the power house engine at peak load periods, there appears to be no reason why a full bus service should not be equally satisfactory. To provide for such a service it will bo necessary to acquire five additional 32-passenger C.1.-engined buses, and the committee accordingly recommends that an order for these vehicles should be placed now so that the earliest possible delivery may be obtained before or after the end of the war. FINANCIAL ASPECT.

In reporting on the financial aspect of the recommendations of the Transport Committee, the Finance Committee states that prices are not obtainable at the present time for buses of the type required, and hence it is not possible to say with any certainty what cost would be involved. Assuming the cost of each vehicle to be £3,500, or £SOO in advance of the. cost of the last vehicles, these five buses would cost £17,500. At present tho department also has on order three Ford buses costing £6,000. It is doubtful if these vehicles will be delivered, but the order has been placed and the liability is now in existence. Prospective bus purchases, therefore, involve an outlay of £23,500. Apart from providing the cost by way of statutory loan authorisation, which is not contemplated, the sources available' for the provision of the funds are the tramway revenue account and the bus renewal fund. As the latter fund was provided for the purpose of replacing vehicles which have reached the end of their useful life, the cost of the proposed new vehicles, which do not comprise replacements, but represent additions to the fleet, would not form a proper charge to this fund. The remaining source, the tramway revenue account, was in credit at October 1 to the extent of £27,000, and after giving the matter careful consideration the committee recommends that the proposed outlay for buses be provided in the meantime by way of loan from the tramway revenue account to the bus account, the latter account paying, for the accommodation the current rate of interest, 3£ per cent. If the proposal is approved it will be necessary for the department to earmark the funds in view of the possibility of other capital or abnormal outlay being contemplated in the near future.