TARDY PROGRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 25715, 12 February 1946, Page 9

TARDY PROGRESS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—" Old Timer's" letter draws quite a sound comparison between Auckland and this city, but the words following his comment upon the splendid tram and bus service—" but this costs money " —have prompted me to point out one difference in policy between the two cities as I see it. Auckland's policy over years has been —like others up that way—to set up not only a full and up-to-date service, but to lay down speculative extensions beyond the limits of the existing houses. Expansion has followed, naturally. Dunedin, conversely, has put the lines down when the houses are in occupa-

tion and a payable line thus assured. This is the good old play-safe way of the south, but it may not be conducive to rapid growth. Actually, a public service should not be cramped, as it were, to guarantee dividends; rather is it desirable that the system run at marginal surplus, or, indeed, at introductory loss, if that will service areas which have strong possibilities of quick settlement. To mention one in prospect, it is fairly well known that there are State housing plans at Green Island of considerable size, and the time is now for the building of a " Mount Victoria " tunnel from Caversham through to Green Island, with an elevated concrete highway in Concord. Through that tunnel would run express trams of the latest type, bringing Green Island within 12 minutes of the Exchange. If the airport should eventuate out at Green Island, there would be need for the tram extension further. Similarly, down the harbour we could build causeways similar to the Sumner line at Christchurch, so that express cars could run direct from the city across the south endowment bank, and go from headland to headland right down to Portobello. A San Francisco Harbour bridge up over the island from Portobello to Port Chalmers w,ould complete the circuit. The whole' point is that instead of being too cautious, we are called upon to dare to expand right away, and after that we shall get the younger people" back here in no time. The first move is with us now. A great future awaits Dunedin—when we act.—l am, etc., Get Going. February 9.