TRAMWAY AND FERRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17255, 3 September 1919, Page 9

TRAMWAY AND FERRY.

POSITION , AT TAKAPUNA.

INDIGNATION OF RESIDENTS.

MAYOR'S ACTION CRITICISED.

The Takapuna tramway and ferry service was discussed last evening at a public meeting, convened by the Takapuna Ratepayers' and Residents' Association. The president of the association, Mr. E. E. Grimwade. presided, and about 700 people were present.

A telegram was read from Mr A. Harris MP. statin* that he had asked the Solictor General to investigate the portion, and suggesting that until his opinion was given the association should take no definite action. A petition which the association has prepared for presentation to the Governor General was read by Mr. A. M. Gould. Mr. trould said the original object of the petition was to secure an improvement of the tramway service, particularly by the provision 0 t two new engines and the proper overhaul of the present ones. Since it had been drawn up, however, an important new development had ansen. This was the curtailment of the service *C Ml, £? rd - w hich was so arranged that the public suffered the maximum of incon- I venience. The crowded rush hour trams ! carrying business people citywards in the ! morning and home again in the evening were both taken the long and inconvenient way round the back of the lake, a distance from Mil ford to the junction at Hall's corner of about two miles, instead of the direct route of 1£ miles along the coast road. Scores of school children now had to walk up to two miles to school, notwithstanding that the tramline passed their doors, and many residents would bo greatly inconvenienced through the tram from the 12.20 boat not going farther than Katrine Street on Saturday. The present time-table was a flagrant breach of the Order-in-Council obliging the company to conduct the tramway in a manner conducive to the public convenience. The association desired that all ratepayers and residents of Takapuna should sign the petition. The action of 33 residents of Milford in presenting to the company a formal notice demanding reinstatement of the i full service was confirmed.

A resolution expressing consternation and annoyance at the action of the company in inaugurating a time-table which co-aid not be for the. good either of the company or the community was moved by Mr. W. J. Forman and seconded by Mr. J. R. Penning. The latter, who is the chairman "f the Takapuna School Committee, referred to the long distance many school children now had to walk, and said the action of the company was not, only unfair, but unwise and unjust. The motion was carried. It was decided to obtain the ruling of the Supreme Court regarding the tramway service, and a number of subscriptions were handed in toward the cost of i the action.

Increase of Ferry Fares. The recent increase of the ferry fares was next discussed. Mr. T. B. Arthur, a member of the Takapuna Borough Council, gave an account of the conference on the subject between the committee appointed bv the council and the company. He said ho had heard it stated that the committee had approached the company in a very arrogant and bombastic manner- That was not so. The only thing the company cculd have taken exception to was "a statement by him that the increase was outrageous. (Applause.) The company adopted the attitude that if the council did not agree to the increase it would make it agree. What was needed now. I Mr. Arthur sard, was lovaltv among the > residents in pressing for their rights. I The chairman referred to a pronosal to' form a. company to run a ferry* service from the city to Barry's Point. He understood the promoters were going to push the scheme ahead. They were not going to rely on the Harbour Board to * the dredging } but, with the approval of the board, would do it themselves. Mr. Gould said there were four ways of remedying the increased fares. They were:— Barry's Point scheme, a municipal ferry, a ferry service by some other company at present in business, or the formation of an entirely new company. A committee was appointed to confer with representatives of the Borough Council regarding the increased fares.

Attitude of the Mayor. Mr. Gould strongly condemned the attitude of the Mayor. Mr. W. Blomfield, in not calling a meeting of the council directly the company announced the increase of ferry fares and the reduction of the tramway service. He was shocked, to find the Mayor sitting still and doing nothing. Mr. C. C. Chalmers said the Mayor should have taken the lead. He moved a resolution stating that, while the meeting recognised that the Mayor had given well of his time and service to the borough in the past, it was not satisfied with his present inactivity regarding the tramway service, and it felt the time had come when he should resign, and give the ratepayers an opportunity of electing as chief magistrate a more active and energetic man. The resolution was seconded by Obtain White. Mr. Gould said he thought such a resolution should not be carried when the Mayor wan not present. He proposed an amendment asking the .Mayor to meet the burgesses at the earliest possible moment and explain his policy to them. Mr. T. B. Arthur seconded.

On the suggestion of Mr. P. E. N. Gaudin the. amendment was altered to include the borough councillors as well as the Mayor, ana in this form it was carried.