PETROL V. ELECTRIC CARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13487, 14 May 1907, Page 3

PETROL V. ELECTRIC CARS.

'" A CHRLSTOHURCH PIIOJiiCT. "' [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Christchurch, Saturday. When the Tramway Board decided to raise a -loan for the purpose of covering the cost of certain suburban lines it was proposed that as those lines were not to be electrified cars propelled by petrol motors should be ;employed in place of the old steam service. Five-cars were included in the original proposal, each costing £100 complete. ■;'■.■ Circumstances arose which made it necessary to economise the loan;money in various directions. ; (, The proposed petrol cars were abandoned and the old steam motors'were retained..:' It is now felt in many quarters that- the time has arrived when the > Board would be, justified in going' to the expense of procuring two at least "of the new petrol cars. 'i The residents of- the"' suburbs concerned Y j are; already ;; agitating in the, direc-; tion of having these cars adopted on those lines!. ,; The proposal is, however, approached with extreme :caution by members of. the Tramway; Board, one of whom, speaking to a' Press representative ' pn the matter/said he 'did not •; think' there : was the slightest chance ;at present of the Board / adopting the proposal. It had been, stated that the new cars would cost £1000 each, but he did not think the cost would be anything below £1200 each. ':;:;: A ; new loan:■ would; have to be raised to cover the cost,. The addition of the new cars would mean the abandoning of the steam motors and possibly some of the trailers, and that .would involve * a direct and substantial loss to the Board. In any case petrol motors were really -only in an experimental stage. r Other members of the Board, who were also approached, seemed to consider that the experiment, would be a little too risky. They would not object to the petrol cars if they could be assured that such would prove successful and reli-.! able, but at present they had not that assurance. One member stated that petrol 'cars had been used as feeders for some of the larger railway systems at Home, but they had not proved satisfactory, and that experience ;■ he ; had gathered ; was common wherever the experiment had been tried.