A "WHOLE" CITY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5667, 15 August 1905, Page 5

A "WHOLE" CITY.

UNIFYING THU TRAMWAY LOANS.

SnU'RBAX DIFFERENTIATION'. Tho City Council yesterday made a pronouncement on the subject of unifying tho tramway system over the whole of tho city and suburbs, so far as tho profits and loans arc concerned.

A letter was received i'rom the Roser.eath Ratepayers’ Association asking if it was true that the Council was entertaining proposals of rating the Melrose district separately for the tramway loans, and stating that the association intended to protest against any deviation from the method of rating. A letter was also received from Mr J. Reid covering a resolution passed at a public meeting at Island Ray protesting against any deviation from the agreement.

T'ho Tramway Committee’s recommendation was: “That a vote be taken of tin ratepayers of the Brooklyn and K.U----h-’inio Wards, for the purpose of

authorising tho raising ol : the extra loan required lor tho completion oi tho tram■\vuv extensions to those districts.

The -Mayor said there was no doubt mere money. would be required, but ili-o amount could bo put aside for the moment. The difference of opinion was as to how tlio vote was to bo taken, lie understood a resolution had been passed by a former Council that no greater n.ito should he assessed in tho suburbs than in tho city; and tho effect of this had been put before the ratepayers of the suburbs. He could quite understand that it was meant that the tramways should bo worked as one. It was quite competent for tho Council, if it chose, to adopt that policy, and to say it was its intention in the- future that the whole system should be worked as ono common work. Then there would bo no special charge against any special locality. But lie did not think it competent for the Council to pass such a resolution as was passed hy the former Council. They" could pass a resolution time if there was a deficiency, tho rate to bo levied in the suburbs and in tho city should bo proportionate to tho amount pi* sinking fund, but the rate struck in the city and in tho suburbs would not be exactly the same rate. At tho present time the working of tlie tramways was such that if it was ail worked as ono there could not possibly bo a deficiency, or any necessity for a rate over any part of the area. (Hoar, hoar.) In the four months of .the year that had passed—and they were regarded as tlie worst period—the tramways had realised within a few pounds of tho estimate. The estimate was £68,800; hut based on tho last four months the rovepuo would be £68,400. It would certainly bo disappointing to him if the estimate was not exceeded by £.3000, which would give a surplus of £IO,OOO, exclusive of the surplus likely to be realised from tho suburban lines. That is, after paying the sinking fund andj interest, on the cite- trams, they would have £IO,OOO to meet other charges. There would be a difference of opinion as to whether the suburban lines wore likely to pay within a limited period. His own opinion was the line to Island Bay would pay from the jump, and lie thought, considering the great accession of dwellings at Brooklyn, that that lino would probably pay and work its way. Since they had adopted the new route to Kilbiruie, it would be a very short time before that lino not only paid its way, but gave __ revenue. It might bo wise to adopt the complete unification of the city and suburban lines, and say that the tramways should ! be worked as one project. That ought I to meet the objections from the various districts to their having authority to levy rates. There had been criticism of tho extensions, but ho was satisfied, and ho thought the committee was also, that with the deviation {that had been made in the Kilbiruie line and the accessions to the district it would tap, it would be capable of indefinite extension, It would bo exceedingly foolish not to take tho opportunity of extending the lino to the proposed point, and, personally, lie desired to take it a little further round to open up the beach to the population of Wellington. Since tho resolution was passed by tile Tramway Committee to make separate districts tlio matter had been looked at differently. “I think perhaps th-e best way is,” ho continued, “not to adopt the report, but to adhere to the former proposal that tlio whole district shall be rated and declare it to be our policy that tho whole earnings of the tramways shall be pooled. That would do away with the feeling of nervousness now afflicting tile inhabitants of tlio outlying districts. It will reassure them. I have rather to apologise to the members of the committee for the change in my feelings on tlio matter. I think the feelings displayed by localities of jealousy with regard to one another are not very commendable. The i probability is, if we adopt the resolu-! tion I have drafted, the whole difficulty will bo done away with.” Ho moved: “ It is hereby' declared to bo the intention of the Council that tho tramways within the former boundaries of the city of Wellington and the suburban tramways'authorised, and now sought to be authorised, should bo worked as one concern, so that the net earnings of the same should bo applied in equal proportions to the interest secured on soocial rates.”

Councillor Godbcr congratulated tie Mayor on the proposal. Councillor Frost said the proposal would improve the feeling between the different parts of 3lelro.se. Councillor Winder: Your opinion is, I suppose, your Worship, that tho agreement between Melrose and the city is really binding? Tho Mayor did not reply.

Councillor Winder said it would bo almost impossible to keep two accounts. It was well known that besides tihe £22,000 they would require another £20,000. (Cries of dissent.) Yes, he believed they would, for they had- no additional cars, and no reserve fund to buy them out of. He suggested referring the matter back to the committee, with a recommendation to take . both amounts together, and make one loan. The Mayor said there was no doubt further moneys would be required, but! the thing had' been started on Order-in--1 Council. There were » good number of! things that had to be considered, and be had circulated a list amounting to a considerably larger sum, but there was no present, necessity, and they would do hotter to wait for an ever better money market than they had now. Councillor Winder: At long at the people know what they hare to faoo wo might Wait. Councillor Cote* alt* *ongrat*lat*d the Mayor. Councillor Carmichael Bird he ought to express his dissent, because he had objected all through. Ho - contended that the estimates could not have been correct. The amount now mentioned

was less than when certain other works were not included.

Tho Mavor said nothing whatever had happened' to affect-, except in a small degree, the estimates of the h-npinrer. The difference between the .C22.(Jt)O and tho £-2-1,000 had been brought about by a saving of £BOOO in regard to compensation. Their requirements were ill put down at somewhere about £20,000.

Councillor McLaren also congratulated tbo -Mayer. It would be a decided mistake to rate the two wards o I Kilbivnio and Brooklyn.

Iho following ■words ■were added to the resolution, which, with this addtiion. was agreed to without- dissent: “'.And that a. rote ho taken of the ratepayers of the district formerly known ns Melrose Ward for the purpose of authorising the raising of the extra loan of £22,000 required for the completion of Iho tramway extensions to this district.”