THE PEOPLE'S CARRIAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13996, 31 August 1907, Page 10

THE PEOPLE'S CARRIAGE

OFFER TO .LEASE WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS.

(Fr.ou Our Own Correspondent.) 'WELLINGTON, August 30. It would appear that, there is mora profit to be made out of the Wellington tramways than is being secured under tho present municipal ownership. This, at least, is the impression to bo gained from an offer that has been made to the. City Council in a letter received from Messrs Martin and Atkinson. "We have tho honour," they write, "by instruction of our client, Mr Archibald! Hall, to make on his behalf.ail offer to the City Council to take a lease of the'tramway rolling stock and cMsheds, with running rights over the lines, at an annual rental of £40,000, payable half-yearly in. advance, together with a monthly payment-of'3d per car mile in respect- of tho power supplied. Under our cliont's proposal the power-house would, remain in tho solo control of the council. Our client's past experience in the conduct of tramways would bo a guarantee that tho convenience of the travelling public would be conserved in his hands; and he is, moreover, prepared, should his proposals be cutertaincd, to give qny substantial security that the council may reasonably desire for the proper carrying out by liim of tho terms of the lease." The details show that the corporation would be asked "to maintain.tJie tram linos in good running ordor, and also to maintain the electrical equipment of tho lines in good order and condition for car running,' to retain full control of the power-house, aiid to undertake to supply all tho electrical power required for the Tunning and lighting of cars and 'for lighting the carsheds and offices." The offer will come before the Tramway Committee at its next meeting.'' THE MAYOR'S OPINION.

"The thing is not going to bo considered," said the Mayor (tho Hon. T. WHislop) to-day, when questioned by a Post reporter about Air Hall's proposal: " Tho initial difficulty," lie'continued, "is in tlio matter of policy. At present our policy is to run the trams so that, while we. get- a reasonable -amount out of them, we run them at a rate which will meet the requirements of the people generally at not. too great an expense. Mr Hall would he ablo to rearrange the sections: I suppose ho contemplates that step. Moreovor, added Mr Hislop, tJio period of the lease would expire just about tho time when there would be considerable ■ diminution in tho value of buildings, am! probably parts of the permanent, way. If tho city was going t.o foreo ahead, as all anticipated it would, tho £40,000 which might be considered a fair rental at the present moment would certainly not he a fair rental in four or five years' time, unless the power to rearrange tho charges was left in the hands of the corporation. However, the ob.iect.ion to the whole scheme was that the City Council would.not give up public riclits of this kind to private individuals. Finally, the Mayor declared that the offer by such a man was a vote of confidence in tho institution as a paying concern by a man who knew all about the business.