CORRESPONDENCE. THAT BIG, WHITE ELEPHANT "TRAM."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9452, 27 February 1911, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

THAT BIG, WHITE ELEPHANT "TRAM."

(To the Editor,) Sir,—lt is all very well for a few big ]"»op.;:ty-owners and billet-seekers to ksep up ;l'.is tram agitation—and try and keep the dust stirred up to blind the general public. But there are a few important matters connected with a tram service in Paimerston North that the general public want a little light thrown on 'before they will dream of putting a new tram Council and Mayor in at the next election. We want the agitators to show us in black and white where tlie revenue is to come from to pay for and support a tram service? Wo want both sides of the question. So far they arc keeping us in the dark as to where the population are coming from, and where they arc going to travel to. They arc showing us how small a sum will be required to instal the service, and how the Wanganui service is a regular mint to Wanganui. Yet, after all, they are not showing us ALL about it. Sometimes the extras on a building cost as much as the building itself, and there would be some rather tough extras in connection with a comprehensive service in this town. Here is one: Could trams run in Palrnerston. North without crossing the railway lines in-the Square? If they must cross will tho Minister for Railways allow them to without adequate protection of the railway lines by,the tramway authorities? 'Certainly' not. This would need the employment of signal men, day and night, throughout the year by the Council. Everybody knows that to serve tho eastern portion of the town, Fitzherbert street, etc., the lino would have to be crossed hourly (evon less), because there would ba so many thousands (?) of passengers to carry. Very well. The wage of these signalmen would mean so many more faros per day on the part of tho travelling public. Now, sir, not one of the agitators, nor engineers for that matter, not even "Electric," has ever given us any idea of revenue, or as to what prospect there is in Paimerston North to make a comprehensive service pay. The question of revenue in a tram service resolves itself into a question of coppers—so many passengers per day at one penny per'ride. Nov.-, I, for one, maintain that if an efficient tram service was established in Paimerston North the whole population of the town would have to take at least ONE RIDE EVERY DAY to make the service pay expenses. It is all bosh for the advocates of a tram service here to quote Wanganui as an example (even if the trams there were paying interest). Wo have nothing in common with Wanganui as a means of feeding a tram service. Altogether out of it! I By all means put. tli-> question to the Tote, but before doing so show us both sides of tho question. So far it is all a vague dream. Give us something definite "to hang our votes on—l am, etc,, B. FRANKLIN.