BUSES OR TRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10564, 18 April 1928, Page 5

BUSES OR TRAMS.

GISBORNE TRANSPORT PROBLEM SHOULD POLE BE TAKEN ? SPECIAL MEETING INTENDED The mode of public transport to be adopted. .. for Gisborne —whether j the trams are to. be .retained;-or replaced by buses—was “ discussed by the Borough ‘Council, last night. The report of the tramways manager (Mr K. G. Kail), on the estimated cost of providing an adequate and efficient service with either, system was considered by the bus and tramways committee who tabled a report stating that, in xeply to questions, the ■engineer stated’ that the track maintenance had received a lot of consideration, and he thought if would probably take about £I2OO to put it in order for another’; twelve months, the Roebuck road loop in particular being very bad. Tbetramways manager, said that it was imperative to obtain a new battery, and he considered it necessary to do only iu-gent repairs to the track to enable the service to be carried on until such time as tho Council had decided its policy in regard to transportation. It was resolved that the matter be left over for consideration by the Council as only £I4OO being in hand the balance of expenditure outside of a surplus for the year would be a call on the general fund if the full expenditure was made upon the track, and a riew battery obtained at about £I4OO. In regard to the buses it was decided to recommend, that a new one be purchased to carry on the service in the meantime, and that alternative offers he invited for the supply of a new bus, cash payment, and the purchase of a bus, trading one of the old buses in part payment. The general question of raising a lo’aii for an up-to-date bus service to stand over until the waterworks loan had been considered. Discussing the report the Mayor stated that ' the condition of tho track had been causing him a,lot of anxiety arid he had. considered the matter deeply. The information submitted' by the engineer showed that £I2OO would be required to repair the track but that even this expenditure would provide only a temporary job that would last for : twelve months. It was also stated that the loop, at Roebuck road would require to be renewed. In his opinion, however, the loop might' not be suitably ori safe for traffic if the cars took the point at from 25 m.p.h . to 30 m.p.li., but in view of the fact that the average speed was only from 4 to 5 in.p.h. there was no necessity to renew the loop the material alone for which would cost £3OO. “The Council is in a very unsatisfactory position” he said. “The two polls of the ratepayers have been taken on a proposal to abolish the trams and the proposal had been carried hut the polls have been invalidated on technicalities. This action had left the Council in a very uncertain- position as 'to the rate of the service.” he added.. “It is no nse going on as we are doing at present and spending £I2OO and having to do the same next year._Wo should endeavour to come to some understanding, examine the position of the service thoroughly and put the proposal before the electors in legal form. Then if the. electors agree to retain the trams, the Council would have a mandate to proceed with expenditure on the service and pufi it on. a proper basis. If, on the other hand, the electors want to abolish the trams for buses the Council null have a niandate in that direction “I don’t think the Council ‘ can go on in the manner they have been doing; the sooner a proposal is placed before the electors the better.” He declared he would favor tho purchase i of a new battery and the experidi ture of a small .sum on repairing the worst portions of the track meantime, which he considered could be covered for from £4OO to £SOO. Then the Council should endeavour to obtain a mandate from the electors, thus doing the matter in a business like manner. Cr. J. W. H.. Holmes asked whether it would not b© possible to repair the loop at Roebuck road hv ■ utilising some of the materials from other loops, which, were . more or less unused? The engineer (Mr A. Young) replied that hb had considered the possibility. All the turnouts and sets of points on all lines were more or less worn, but th© loop at Roebuck' roaa was the worst, as it was the most used. He doubted whether the western end; of the switch could be replaced by materials from any of the other loops as the angle seemed different, and if this was the case it would mean that a re-alignment of the loop would have to he made, which would be a very costly readjustment. The turnout at the eastern end of the loop, however, could he believed, be replaced by materials from; other loops. Cr. T. Todd inquired when the Council was to be given an opportunity of discussing the report by Mr Ball on town transportation. The Mayor: Any time. Cr. J. Blair agreed with the Mayor on the question of ptolicy and he suggested that a special meeting should be convened to consider the report on town transportation, and also the proposal to take a poll of electors. In the past few weeks no doubt, the Mayor had been supplied with additional information on the position of the trams, and obviously now believed that the Council could not, except with th© sanction of the rate-payers—-continue to throw money down a sink. The Mayor: No; we can’t go on. Continuing, Cr. Blair pointed out that the sum of £2600 was required i to effect immediate repairs which .1 would be only temporary. - None of th© councillors were biassed', and he thought they should honestly and impartially examine the facts and submit them, to the electors to decide for or against the service. If they agreed tof retain the trams then the cost of repairs would have to come out of their pockets. Another point which the tram controversy was holding up was the permanent amelioration of Gladstone road. He agreed that a poll -should be taken as early as possible; in fact it was regrettable that the propoasl could not be? submitted before any money was expended in repairs. 1 ? The Mayor said he recognised that some.money would have to be. spent on ’ the track repairs, but lie believed that it was no worse .than“it had , 0 been for the last seven or. eight years. Until die knew, what the elecK % tors intended tliereanent. he was l \ hot iti favor of spending a lot of * money on the service, and then in a few months the trams might stop running of their own accord, which vyould happen if the Council continued' its tiddly-tattley policy with them.

■Or. It. J. Kerridge questioned whether any .expenditure was necessary.' ■ v:.; /■ v j x - ; Tile Mayor pointed out that there were . seven or eight bad places in the, track: which should .Jbe * repaired for 'the i comfort of the -people who Used'the trains. 'lni; reply, to a question by Or. G.' D.’ Smith,’the Town Clerk stated thiit .ai poll of'the electors could be taken at any time but in the event of the service being reained and a loan being (required the Council would first have, to apply to the Local Government. Loans Board. ’Oi-..H.E. Maude pointed out that if'the electors decided to retain the, trams, and a proposal for a loan. to; rehabilitate ■ the. service, was • , (Contd. at, Fofit~nf Next (VjlomnJ

submitted to the ratepayers and was rejected the Council would he no further ahead. The Mayor stated that the Council could apply to the Local Government Loans Board for authority to raise a loan without the sanction. of the ratepayers. ' Cr. Blair expressed the view that if the electors decided to retain the trains the expenditure required to put the trams on a proper basis would have to be found out of revenue. • ■- r /-V t Cr. Maude raised the question whether the money could he provide ed other than out of t tramway revenue. The Mayor said he held to his opinion that if the trams were placed oil a .business basis and in proper running “ order - they would pay for themselves. The Council eventually decided to hold a special: meeting./ on Tuesday; evening next to' discuss; the: whole* position - and prior to the debate to inspect the track.