THE H.B. TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1912 MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 52, 14 February 1912, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1912 MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE.

It is impo.ssibie to avoid recognition of Hie iact that inucti uneasiness prevails among Napier ratepayers regarding the financial position oi the council, liie reeling, of uneasiness was increased considerably by me putini-ation on -Uoutlay oi tue new loan proposals, naturally me tu.-n aiim’rs have taken has brought forth a cnorus of "1 told you sus ' jio.'ii those who claimed some three years ago to be possessed oi prophetic vision. But it is hardly lair to put all the blame upon Hie council. Hie ratepayers adopted the spirit oi tiie times and yearned tor luxuries. When offered the opportunity to possess them they readily agreed to the propositions put before them. Napier must be progressive. Now, however, that payday approaches, the rosy-tinted future gradually assumes the drab colour of the present, and the people find that they will have to pay for the goods ordered. More than this —the schedule price is higher than they anticipated. The ratepayers .were given to understand that a lean of £25.000 would give them a theatre, town hall and municipal offices, and they voted the money. AV hat have they got .’ A theatre alone which has cost, will cost, £31.060, to which we may add say another thousand, cost of removal of the central fire station to make room for a house for th<> tenant on the theatre site whom the council could not evict after paying £6300 for the land. Now, the net result to the town without frillings is that from £25,00i) voted for a rent-producing proposition we are to have a white elephant. It will be a handsome animal, no doubt, but it will never be able to earn its food. It will be a prize packet for J. C. Williamson and other big companies and a dream of grandeur Far beyond tiie reach of local amateurs and musical . There are excuse*.-, for the council. uu-dviibti-dly. and the ratepayers Tior*’’ not oceiiook this fact. I/’.it we have io accept the posi-ic-n as it stands---the theatre is an ex-tensive luxury for which the town will !:a.e to pay. I lie sewerage loan was not looked upon as bring directly ri-piodue'ive. hm it is not o-itsid" the realm of possibility that (here will be a • h'»rt::.'O’ in ih;u <’> i-t’ n •lb-:'. Howe'-'/, we need not ao to meet trouble. Vie have still before is tiie li.-ini'.tay loan of £.",t:.0-j ( .). A suggestion has been ma'te that this expeudi; ttri’ . : ho'..bl be dropped tor ‘ he pres<-iic tint it an unlie.-itating* guarantee can lie given that the sysv 'll b' profit-earning, or at ■V- ; <- n ri be ir lied unon to nay ns T’er-ru is sermw-tiling in this p’tion wbt-'-h is worthy of con•:b ration. Th we ar? difficulties in die way. however, of holding up the scheme or adopting something chea- i

per and more in keeping with the needs of the town. In the first place we have to remember that the council has contracted with the A.M.P. Society to lift the £.125.000 loan. If the society refused to release the borough from its obligation to lake the £50.000 lor trams what would happen? Then again a contract has been entered into with Mr. Black to pay him 5 per cent, upon £50,000 for preparing plans and supervising the work of construction. AV he re does Mr. Black come in if the work is not gone on with Another point to be remembered is that the sewerage scheme is irrevocably connecteel with the electric light and tram system insomuch that machinery for sewerage pumping has been ordered. It is to be driven by electricity, and if the electrical propositions arcdropped all this machinery will to a large extent be useless. These are some of the difficulties in the way of a proposal to drop the tramway scheme, but they are not insuperable. In all probability the A.M.P. Society would agree to let the council off its bargain to take the £50,000. Mr. Black would probably compromise with his lees, and if the electric lighting and power scheme were gone on with it would prevent difficulties over the sewerage. The council could lock into these matters before finally accepting tenders for trams next month. The claim for a cheaper quick transit service in Napier appears to us a sound one. The electric trams as proposed are bound to prove expensive, and their efficacy in meeting public requirements will be seriously handicapped by the hills. Beyond the route aheady agreed upon the trams must be ot very restricted service and certainly extensions will not be profitable for some years to come. In view of trie fact that the electric power machinery must be installed, would it not be possible to convert our proposed full-lledgtd tram sei-vice into what is known as the “trackless trolley” system ! These cars run upon the ordinary road surface anil take their power from the overhead wire.. Tiiey run in uo fixed position ami can turn aside to make way for other traffic. The tearing up of streets and laying down of heavy permnneni. way.; are obviated. Wherever I’m- power wire runs the cars can go.' and ria.in information .<> iv < i about the s-, :t< m. it seems an ideal om- for a small town. Napier has no great avenues of I raffle as in the Lig eh ies, ami a quick facile system is needed tc pick up business in all direv tione. Tro theatre is one expensive luxury, and it would be wise not to add the trams to rhe lite if it k not too late io make an alteration. The tram system should be made to pay its way, and not become u burden upon rates. Willi an expensive full-fledg-ed tramline this seems most probable. No effort should be spared to keep down the rate-burden of the town, and this can only be achieved l>y making sure that business ventures entered into pay their way. Napier stands in to wet-nurse several of its municipal enterprises.