THAT TRAM PLEDGE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10738, 8 November 1928, Page 5

THAT TRAM PLEDGE

MR. COLEMAN’S FURTHER EXPLANATION. DENIAL OF MR. LYSNAR’S CHARGE. “Mr. Lysnar has stated several times that I broke my pledge, to the electors over the trams,” said Mr. D. W. Coleman 'at*'To Hapara/ last evening. “I have denied this and’ I do''"so' again and I also- feel that Te Hapara is an appropriate place to give a full explanation of my attitude in the matter. ' . L'.i

“What I have always said,” proceeded Mr. Coleman, “is -that, while the trams remained in reasonable working condition and would pay running expenses, I would /oppose scrapping. ' I knew, and wo all did, that the trams would gradually ; scrap themselves. Mr. Bernard and others on the council wanted to scrap them, but I opposed, this. At my first meeting as mayor, a report on the tramways was submitted, by the manager, Mr. Ball, and, though, 1 asked for time to go into tlie position, this was not agreed to.” Mr. Coleman then quoted from Mr. Ball’s report sections dealing with the condition of the rolling stock. “I was very awkwardly placed,” he proceeded. ’-“Two polls had already resulted in favor of scrapping and it was obvious from these that there was little likelihood of the ratepayers granting further money foi the trams, * certainly not the £40,630 which Mi*. Ball estimated was required to recondition the service,. Nevertheless I urged the coupon to allow the ratepayers an opportunity of voting on tlie proposal. As mayor, l wont thoroughly into the matter and found that Nos. 1 and. 2 cars were full of dry rot and in such a bad condition that no private company would have been able-to maintain them in service. I defy anyone to contradict this, even though I am »n the stronghold of the trams. Not content with my own investigations, I asked , the District Engineer, Mr. G. W. Albertson, to look into the matter. He did so and advised me not to spend a penny on Nos. 1 and *i cars, Finally the electors voted for the discontinuance of tlie trams, but l did not go back an lota on my promise so far as tlie public were concerned. I always said that, while they continued to pay running expenses, I would see they were kept on Now we have two new ’buses anil there should be no inconvenience to tlie electors.” A voice: “What about Ka»ti “They never wanted the trams, answered Mr. Coleman, “but I’fT see that Kaiti has ’buses as well as all other parts of Gisborne.”