CITY TRANSPORT

Evening Star, Issue 25172, 11 May 1944, Page 6

CITY TRANSPORT

FAIR APPROACH TO PROBLEM CR TAVERNER REVIEWS POSITION "We have enjoyed your confidence for the past three years, and we believe that the result of our administration has been for the general beuelit. of the city," said Cr W. B. Taverner in the course of an ejection address given at South Dunedin last night under the auspices of the Citizens' Association. ' The period has been in. many ways difficult and unusual, and depleted staffs and shortage of necessary materials have oreated a position unprecedented in our experience," he added. "A' considerable portion of the available labour and much material and money had to bo diverted to the Emergency Precautions Service requirements, the work being an insurance for the safety of the people." Dealing • with the City Council's housing scheme, Cr Taverner said it was looked upon as the best in the country. It was unfortunate that war conditions had put an end to the scheme. The idea had been inaugurated by a Labour Council, who borrowed £200,000 and built 174 houses. The present council had carried on the scheme by borrowing another £IOO,OOO and erecting an additional 87 houses. At present there was not the money or the labour or material available to continue the scheme. They would have to face the faot that when the scheme was resumed some modification would have to be made owing to the fact that costs had increased so substantially. The future transport policy of the council was one of major importance, said Cr Taverner. Transport concerned the general amenities of the city, and in particular was intimately related to the expansion and development of our residential areas. A (falling revenue and a substantial increase in running costs brought about a condition of affairs which in June, 1839, caused the council much concern and produced the '" 1939 report," wherein it was shown that a capital expenditure of £200,000 was called for should it be decided to repair and modernise the electric system. The severe restrictions placed on the operation of motor cars increased the number of passengers carried and considerably improved the revenue, but wartime conditions also added to, the department's difficulties because of lack of material and labour. The couditions affected every rail transport system in the country, and they could not be overcome while the war lasted. In preparation for peace-time activities, however, and urged py the condition of the track, the council iin November last resolved on the motion of Cr E. J. Smith to obtain an outside report on the engineering side and a financial report from the city treasurer. They were mow awaiting Sir William Goodman's report, based on a comprehensive order of reference. There had been criticism of that order of reference. He refuted the suggestion that the council hUd in any way tied the hands of Sir William Goodman, who would give a foil report on their transport system. No fairer approach could in his opinion have been made "to the subject. The transport system of Dunedin had a loan indebtedness of £331,000, the greater part of which was represented by the electric system, continued Cf Taverner. In any scheme for extending and improving the method of transportation that fact must be kept in front of their consideration. A scheme for altering or modernising the system would cost a large sum, which must be borrowed, and every £IOO,OOO 60 spent called for about £B,OOO a year in interest, sinking and renewal fund charges, •which must be carried by the same or less revenue. Those who suggested wholesale expenditure .with a static population must have regard to those facts. '■" I want to mention some of the things the council has done for the benefit of the worker," Cr Taverner continued, " and what I mean by that is that when we do anything for the general good we do it for the worker." The council, he said, Had paid a wage subsidy of £1 to single men and £1 10s to married men belonging to the permanent staff who were accepted for service overseas. It had consolidated the three City Corporation sick benefit societies. He stated that when the staff was available a receiving office would be established in South Dunedin, where rates, gas, and electricity accounts could be paid. Brief addresses were also given by Cr D. C. Cameron, candidate for mayoralty, and Crs E. J. Smith and L. J. Ireland, candidates for the City Council.