MANGERE TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 11

MANGERE TRANSPORT.

TRAM EXTENSION WANTED.

AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL. TRIAL OF TRACKLESS CARS. A request for the extension of the tramway system from Onehunga into the Mangere riding of the Manukau County was placed before the Auckland Transport Board yesterday by a deputation from the County Council and the Mangere Progressive Association. The Mangere riding was recently added to the board's district. The deputation, which comprised Messrs. F. M.. Waters, S. Rickards and S. Mason, presented a petition signed by 461 residents asking for the trams to bo extended from Onehunga to Black Bridge at Mangere, and that a feeder bus servico be established there to serve the outlying districts and the Auckland Aero Club's aerodrome at the week-ends. If tho board was unalslo to consider extending the tramway service it was asked to consider the feasibility of giving trackless trams a trial in the district.

Mr. Rickards said the deputation was asking the board to take over the transport services of tho district. The terminus of the tram extension, if it were carried out, would be in tho centre of au area with a population of about 3500. Furthermore, there was heavy incidental traffic to the aerodrome and the Mangere speedway, which he claimed, warranted the board considering one of the propositions favourably. Mr. Mason supported the proposals from the. point of view of the aero club, which, he stated, hoped to make- its aerodrome one of the show places of the city. At present its attraction was nullified to an extent by the difficulty of access. Regularly on Sundays, however, motor-cars took from 100 to 300 people, and those numbers would be greatly augmented if there were cheaper means of travel.

Questioned regarding the fitness of the Mangere Bridge to carry trams, Mr. Waters expressed the opinion that the County Council would not let a matter of £7OOO or £BOOO stand in the way of improved transport for the district. "One of the serious handicaps the Mangere riding has had to face is the lack of adequate transport facilities," he said. In promising that the board would consider the representations made, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, the chairman, said that now tho riding was part of the board's area it was the board's duty to give it the best? service possible, taking into consideration the claims of those services already operating in the district.