TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18890, 12 December 1924, Page 12

TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS.

POSTPONEMENT OF WORK.

TRADES UNION SUGGESTIONS.

COUNCIL'S VIEWS UNCHANGED.

The altitude of labour toward the decision aftthe Auckland City Council to defer ooc of the proposed tramway extensions was denned in a series of communications submitted to the council at its meeting last evening. The secretary of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee forwarded a resolution in which it was stated that the committee was of the opinion that, in order to meet. tta competition now existing with the tramway system, weekily and monthly and yearly tickets should be issued, these tickets to be available over the «nti:re system with an unrestricted number of rides.

The council desired to thank the coranittce, but to point out that it was not n a position at present to consider any :uch further concessions. A resolution by the Auckland branch .f the Amalgamated Society of Carpeu,ers and Joiners, "that the City Council 3a asked to take a poll of ratepayers on the question of rfroceeding with the-pro-posed tramway extensions," was forwarded by that organisation. Regret was aj'so expressed that the council had decided not to proceed with extensions, the reasons for this regret being that numbers of the society's members lived in the districts which the proposed lines would serve, and the absence of tram facilities was a great inconvenience; much building work, particularly house building, was being carried on in these districts, and as well as being an inconvenience to men employed in that work, the absence of tram facilities added considerably to the labour costs of building; the decision not to proceed with the work had meant the discharge of a number of men; it was nbt thought that there existed any grounds for the suggestion, which seemed to be implied by the council's decision, that the transportation needs of those districts can be as well served by a motor omnibus service asi they could by extensions to the tramway service. It was decided to reply that any such pall would not be in accord with the statutory provisions or with the council's policy. A further resolution from the Point Chevalier branch of the New Zealand Labour Party protested against the council's decision not to proceed with the tramway extension to Point Chevalier. This was' received.

A LINE TO EDEST PARK. COUNCIL ADOPTS PROPOSALS. A draft of the conditions suggested in connection with the proposal to lay a tr&'ttway siding from Edendale Road to the rear of the pavilion at Eden Park for the better handling of crowds attending lootball, cricket, or sports fixtures, wan submitted to the City Council last nislit. The draft was. submitted by the tramways manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, who suggested that an agreement along the lines of the draft be entered into with the Eden Park trustees. The first condition was that the trustees give the council permission to construct and maintain a s ding and loop line in the park, the term of the grant to be for 30 years, or for so long as the park continues to be used as a playing ground. The trustees are to undertake that the park will continue to be used as a playing ground for at least ten years. The trustees are to erect all the necessary fences and barriers for the purpose of handling traffic between the siding and «the playing ground, the filling, embankments, and other preliminary work to be done by the corporation at its own expense. It is laid down that the fare to or from the siding shall not exceed sixpence, or the fare for J,he <ime being prescribed as for a three-section trip. The corporation is to- be entitled at' its discretion to charge a single fare, a return fare, or, with the consent of the trustees, a fare inclusive of admission. An important clause 1 reads as follows: — " After :he siding is completed the trustees not to allow any other vehicle ing for hire .for the "carriage of passengers to enter the /park, nor to assist, or in any way support, any of the corporation's competitors for passenger business Taxi-cabs for the time being hired by annual subscribers to the ground or officials of the sports organisations using the same are not, for the purposes of this clause, to be deemed to be vehicles plying for hire." On the recommendation of the Tramways Committee the report was adopted.