SUNDAY TRAM SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 7

SUNDAY TRAM SERVICE.

THE COMPANY'S APPLICATION.

A TOLL MAY BE TAKEN.

The question whether the tramcars shall be permitted to ran during church hours on Sundays, was brought before the Auckland City Council last night. -A letter was read from, the general manager of the Electric Tramways Company, requesting permission to run trams during church hours on Sundays, viz., from 11 a.m. to 12.20 p.m., and from seven to 8.20 p.m. The present stoppage of the service during these hours, Mr. Walklate stated, caused great inconvenience to thousands of people, especially to those who returned to this side of the harbour from places where the traflic was continuous. The company had every reason to believe that a continuous service, on Sundays would be supported by the company's employees. The company, in making the application, was of course prepared to undertake to run cars during church hours at a walking pace past the churches, and for a. sufficient distance on either side so as to avoid any disturbance that might, otherwise be caused. The town cleric, in an attached report, stated that the restriction regarding the running of tramcars on Sundays was contained in the deed of delegation, and was as follows:—'- No cars shall be run on the Lord's Day until a Sunday service has been approved of by the- citizens by a poll taken on the question." A poll taken on August 20. 1903, upon the company's request to run a Sunday service, resulted in the proposal being carried by 3955 votes to 3935, a majority of 22 votes. The company, later gave an undertaking to cea.se running the cars during the hours in question, and so the Sunday service had been maintained ever since. The position now was that if the necessary number of ratepayers required by the Tramways Act, applied to th« Council to have the question, whether or not the cars should run between the hoars mentioned, submitted to the decision of the citizens, then the Council should at the company's expense, cause a poll to be taken, the company to abide by the result. A resolution of protest against the proposal was received from the congregation of the fipsom Baptist Church. The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) said it seemed that the application was one that should be referred to a committee. He moved that the matter be referred to the Electric and Water Committee, the committee also to report upon, the question whether the Council should facili'/ate the taking of a poll at the company's expense. The motion was seconded and carried.