TRAMWAYS OUT OF DATE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 October 1924, Page 9

TRAMWAYS OUT OF DATE.

for. big cities. I think the day of the tramway service in cities at least is over,” was che opinion expressed on Monday by sir Mark Sheldon, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney by the Niagara (says the Taranaki Herald’s correspondent). Sir Mark was formerly trade Commissioner for Australia, in New York and latterly president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Australia. His view was that the motor-bus or lailless tram would take the place of the. tramway for city transport. He instanced the. case of Sydney, where buses are fairly establishing themselves and seriously interfering with tramway revenue to the extent that while several projected tramway extensions have been approved, no steps have yet been taken toward their construction.

It is _ seriously suggested that the authorities controlling tramways in Sydney are contemplating the introduction of extensive bus services to meet private competition. Sir Mark mentioned that this kind of competition was growing in Melbourne, where conditions were particularly suited to this form of transport. When he was reminded there was a .scheme for the electrification of the Melbourne trams the visitor said lie did not think in view of the present position that the tramway authorities would go on with this scheme, or that at least thev would seriously reconsider it. He stated he visited Melbourne during the recent strike of tramway men, and buses were movina the people so efficiently that the effecd of the strike was not apparent.