THE TRAMWAY SCHEME

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 11 August 1908, Page 5

THE TRAMWAY SCHEME

HAWERA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TAKES ACTION.

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE CALLED. The proposed tramway between Hawera and Kaupokonui was considered at a special meeting of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening. There were present: Messrs E. Nalder, (President), E. L. Barton, E. Dixon, J. Foy, R. W. Sargent, and H. Temple Atkinson. ! The President said the matter was of great importance to the town and the question was tramway or no .tramway. ■ r I Mr Dixon: That is so. ' ' The President: "For my own part I am ''for the tramway."" -Like many others whose business took them over 1 the Main South road, Mr Nalder went on to say, be could not help thinking that the road was not going to last — through no fault of those who made it but simply on account of the waggon traffic that continually went over it. Mr Sargent: Even at this tune of the year. The President: Tes and unless we can take the traffic off the road in some shape or form it will only be a matter of time when the money spent on the road will have to be Bpent all over again. It was a pity that a poll had not been taken when the iron was hot, but the tram would' have to come, whether the traction be steam or electric. If the ftocal bodie3 or the ratepayers would not sanction the scheme the only thing to do would be to let a private concern take the matter up. Mr Dixon said he thought raosi; of them were agreed that it would be one of the best things for the district and town if the tram were, constructed. Now was the opportune time for the Chamber to step in to show that it was really earnest in the matter. He would move j That this Chamber appoint a Committee to call a public meeting to discuss the proposal, the committee > to collect data and lay the scheme before the public meeting that the Mayor be asked to preside. Mr Dixen added that it would be necessary to have the public meeting so -as to create interest in the, poll to be taken shortly. ■ ,- Mr Foy said he understood that the poll was a preliminary step to test the j feeling, of the ratepayers' as. to 1 whether they were in favor i of "the proposal as formulated by Mr Black, It appeared that the County Council was showing • a disposition to shelve the matter while the ratepayers in the northern end — Manaia or Waimate — were snowing a keen interest in the matter and the poll would be taken ' in about a fortnight and Hawera Borough Council would take their poll on the same' day. Now was the time to put the matter before the Hawera public because interest $1 the scheme to a certain extent had . flagged. Although he believed there were many in the borough who Were favorable to the scheme. The Manaia delegates were going to address* meetings shortly in the country, and he understood they. wished one or two to attend from Hawera to show that the town was in sympathy with the country.. He believed the Manaia delegates would attend the public meeting in Hawera. He .was. convinced that the Chamber should take the matter up and lay before the public the 'arguments in favor of the tram. He was quite satisfied that once the tramway to Kaupokonui was con- ' structed it would be a big thing for the town and the whole of the district. He had much pleasure in seconding the motion moved by Mr Dixon. He added that if they worked properly he believed they could get an emphatic poll in favor' of the proposal and a committee should be formed to get voters to the poll. , Mr Barton: How long has the proposal been before the Hawera County Council— About 18 months. The President said the County should have taken a poll long since to give the ratepayers a chance of saying Tes or No. Mr Barton argued that as long as matters of the kind under notice were bands of local bodies nothing would be accomplished for many years. He was strongly in favor of a private concern taking up the matter as against local bodies. It was pointed out by Messrs Foy and Dixon that the Chamber had not yet to concern itself as to how the tramway was to be built, but to get a poll of ratepayers ttrongly in fayor s of. the proposal. If that were accomplished it would mean that the hands op the local bodies would be forced, and if they did not build the tramway Vos it would be for them to delegate their powers to a private company as could be done under the Tramways Act. They wanted the tram. , , Mr Barton: Tes. and quickly. In answer to a query Mr Foy said he thought HaweraV share of the cost of the tramway would be £10,000-. Even if it were found necessary to levy the additional rate of 7-22 of a penny the district would be recouped by the expenditure. Mr Dixon'q motion was carried, when the following were the committee appoined: Messrs Foy, v Nalder, Bone, Dixon, Parkinson and the Secretary. The date of the public meeting was left to the- committee to decide. The Hawera Hockey Club is to play Inglewood at the latter club's ground to-morrow. Inglewood • now tie with New Plymouth for the premier position in championship fixtures. Local supporters of,she game will be pleased to jjearn that Mr E; Robertson, formerly of Plymouth, a capable referee and an enthusiastic supporter of the game, is now residing in Hawera.