The Hastings Standard. SATURDAY, NOV. 13, 1909 TRAMS AND OTHER THINGS.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4310, 13 November 1909, Page 4

The Hastings Standard. SATURDAY, NOV. 13, 1909 TRAMS AND OTHER THINGS.

The sang-froid with which our Napier contemporary approves the decision of the Public Works Committee of the Hastings Borough Council to recommend its parent body to ask for further information from Messrs Norman Heath in regard to that firm's application for concessions in connection with its proposal to form a company to construct and work a tramway service in Hastings is decidedly humorous. It must really have a very poor conception of the business acumen of the members of the Council if it thought they were likely to accept the firm's proposals without fuller details than those contained in the letter which Mr Heath submitted with the view of opening discussion on the matter. Nothing more could be expected than that the Works Committee should ask for further data and also todecide ascertain particulars of an electric tram service to be worked in

conjunction with the electrical supply scheme which the ratepayers are shortly to be asked to sanction. "The Telegraph" is also amusing when it pretends to a greater knowledge of the wishes of the ratepayers regarding the establishment of municipal trams in Hastings than that possessed by the Mayor and several of the councillors. Too well the latter know the disinclination of ratepayers to sanction any loan proposals for other works than those which are essentially necessary. Aud at the present season there is so considerable a sum of loan money required to construct efficient sewerage, water, and electrical supply systems, as to make it unwise to increase the amount asked for by including a tramway proposal. We are agreed there can be no question that an efficient tram service between Havelock and Frimley would be a strong factor for the further welfare of the town and that it would eniich the owners of property in the suburbs it served. But a great question exists whether it would not have to be spcon fed by the ratepayers until the population increased sufficiently to make it possible to institute a sectional penny fare tariff. The suggestions made by Messrs Norman Heath and Co. are in the nature of a sporting offer, and the promoters show great confidence in the rapid progress of the town in the near future. But look at the proposal from every standpoint and it is seen to be a speculation. Hastings ratepayers are not looking for speculative investments just now —they have other things to occupy their attention. At the end of five years if Heath's proposals are favourably considered the tramways will be a speculation no longer. The system will be an established business, which if a profitable one, the Council will take over under the terms of its option. If unprofitable the company will continue to exist for a further period of three years. By these remarks will be seen we still hold the opinion that the best intereste of the town will be served if the council makes the best terms it can with Messrs Heath and Co. The interest on cost of construction stipulated to be paid by the council when it takes over the service must necessarily be regarded as payment for goodwill, and the value of the business will be small indeed if it is not worth, as a going concern, a few thousands sterling. Any way the speculative element will be removed. Let us have all the town improvements we can as quickly as possible. If the ratepayers are prepared to increase the amount of the proposed loan there are plenty of ways in which the moneys can be expended. Before we have municipal trams we want municipal gasworks, and a muncipal theatre. The building which has served the latter purpose in the early days is no longer suitable for a town of the importance of Hastings. We now want a theatre in which the people will ft-el some sense of security against a possible fearful loss of life througft panic or fire, and that security can on'y be found in a fireproof building equipped with a proper system of fire escapes. This with the other systems we have named we urge the ratepayers to approve of before even considering such a thing as a municipally-owned tram service.