THE TRAMWAY SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17361, 7 January 1920, Page 6

THE TRAMWAY SERVICES.

EXTENSIONS IMPOSSIBLE.

COAL SUPPLY DIFFICULTY.

No immediate extension of the tramway I facilities of the city seems likely to take . placo in present circumstances. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. H. Gunson, when approached yesterday on the question of the municipal tramway policy, said that the council fully appreciated the nccesdity of extensions in many directions, and also /improvements in the service commensurate

with the increasing travelling ability of the community. In view, however, of the shortage of coal, and oth£r difficulties, it had reluctantly to say that any enlargement of the services, or improvement in the time-table conditions, was out of the question as present. He was sure the citizens would recognise that if, in present circumstances, the council could maintain the existing services, it would do welL The output of electric power, and the overhead installation, would admit of extensions, other circumstances being equal, but just now the coal difficulty dominated the situation.

All the reserve stocks which had been maintained in the past had been exhausted, both as to the electric lighting station and the tramway power-house, and the council's departments now were dependent upon hand-to-mouth delivery. The city had contracts with the Taupiri Coal Company, which had always strictly mainlined them, and he had no doubt that the company was doing the beet that present conditions made possible.