CABLE CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23687, 20 December 1938, Page 12

CABLE CARS

REPLACEMENT BY BUSES "A COSTLY EXPERIMENT" ROSLYN RESIDENTS OBJECT PETITION TO CITY COUNCIL " We, the undersigned residents of Dunedin, hereby protest against any substitution for the cable car system by buses or other means. We are satisfied that the past history of the cable system proves its safety and efficiency. We suggest that improvements should be made to the cars, roadway and all machinery that will ensure safety for a further 50 years and continue to carry the traffic to the satisfaction of the hill residents." That is the text of a petition to the Dunedin City Council that is now circulating among the residents of the hill suburbs. It was presented last evening to a meeting that overflowed the Roslyn Institute Hall, and the 200 or so residents who were able to find sitting or standing space in the hall expressed their very definite agreement with it. It appears that this meeting is likely to be the first of a series of such protests, and it set up a general committee to collate facts and figures for presentation to a later meeting and also a committee of those prepared to canvass for signatures to the circular. "A Step Too Far" "The authorities seem to think they can rip up everything without protest, but this time they have taken a step too far," said Mr R. S. Black, who presided. "The first thing people have to get into their minds when considering this matter is the safety factor. That must not be overlooked. People living on the hills who own cars know very well that when there is a nice little frost their cars stay in the garages. How 'will the buses get on?" Mr Black quoted from speeches made before the last general election by Mr A. H. Allen, Mayor, and Mr D. C. Cameron, Deputy Mayor. At a meeting of ratepayers held in the Roslyn Theatre at which these two candidates for office were invited to give their opinions about the inclination of the City Council to compete against the tram services with buses, Mr Allen had said: "It has been the pohcy to use buses as feeders to the trams and cable cars. I do not believe in replacing them." Mr Cameron had said that tenders for buses had been called and would close on May 30. " I would remind you, he had said, "that the elections take place on May 11. If you do not want the buses, you know what to do. Those opinions, Mr Black suggested, played a big part in determining the result of the election. A Dictatorial Method Criticism could properly be levelled at the present state of the cable cars, at the engine room, track and conveyances, he continued. It might be asked at the same time what attention had been given to these three departments, and it could be said that no specialised attention had been given to or demanded for any of them, and that the present position was due either to igi norance or to a settled policy to scrap the cars. The present tramway system was ' authorised under an Order-in-Council, by which the corporation was bound to run a minimum service. Notwithstanding this and the fact that there was a method of obtaining an amended Order-in-Council, the corporation had deliberately chosen a dictatorial method, which could be called nothing less than illegal. That. was a general matter deserving special attention because it involved a clear breach of the rights of the ratepayers and the duties of the corporation. Delayed and Erratic Service "Coming to the actual running of the buses." he said, "ample evidence has already accumulated of .delayed and erratic service and an inability to cope with anticipated traffic on ordinary apart from extraordinary occasions. Footnotes to letters to the newspapers, obtained from official sources, have had to admit this, and also to disclose breaches of regulations for which private operators are prosecuted. Mr Black quoted instances which he declared were obvious breaches of the regulations and unsatisfactory service The already unsatisfactory position of traffic in Rattray street, Cargill s Monument, and the Stock Exchange was gravely aggravated by the turning of buses, which involved, an additional hazard and risk to life. This drew attention to the danger throughout other parts of the routes caused by bus stops on blind corners and the contemolated dangers of frosty surfaces on SSTWS 8 The stretch Robin Hood quarry and Arthur street was mentioned as a case in point. Independent Report Necessary "At this stage," he went on, "comes in the uDkeep ana wear and tear on roads from traffic of eightton vehicles. This cost should be set against the running buses and not against the Works Committee of the council. Before the corporation can claim that a fair trial has been made, there should be an independent expert report on the whole system, of buses, concerning capital cost running repairs and the cost of replacement of buses, working expenses and the upkeep of roads, and at the same time an expert report on the estimated cost of putting the existing system into economic order. I emphasise that those reports should be by independent experts. In making this calculation too, the factor of local, power sunolv has to be considered against imported fuel, etc., and that is quite a Dig consideration." There were other systems in different parts of the world —San Francisco, Liverpool, Hongkong, for example—running with satisfaction to the travelling public and without loss to the promoters. If our manager savs the cost here is 2s 8d against is 7d in San Francisco, then our manager surely should learn his ]ob or we should have another manager. No man can convince me that there is any safer means of conveyance than the cable system. I.have plenty of figures, but I am b oing to. keep them in my bag in the meantime. You will be eurprised to learn how efficiently and economically these cable cars can be run." "Studied Neglect" A question asked by Mr E. Sincock was the amount of the debit still standing in the City Council books against the Roslyn service Mr Black said he thought the amount was £lb,uuu, but Mr Sincock said he thought it was greater than that. Some years ago, when he was a member of the council, he continued, he complained about the studied neglect of the service, and it was then proved that nothing was being done to the'line because of other ideas held' by the management. As the result of that inquiry, the line was put in order then, but little or nothing had been done to it since, and again it was a case of studied neglect. He believed buses on the hills were an absolute danger, particularly in the winter. He himself had seen them going downhill sideways after a light fall of snow. "This is a determined effort by the tram management at present 'to force buses on to the hill residents in spite of their opinions, he said. "We have to be equally determined." Principles Governing Services The general principle of the. corporation's attitude was discussed by Mr J L Caldcr. He had been asked to investigate the legal position regarding the running of the bus and tram system at present, and he explained that tram systems were run by Order-in-Council governed by the Tramways Act. Those Orders-in-Council provided definite conditions for each service, and the Tramways Act included provisions that applied to all services. He hardly thought the running of the buses was illegal, as had been suggested; but the conditions of the

Order-in-Council regarding times of starting, intervals between runs, and so on. were mandatory, and the corporation was not complying with them. It had taken cars off at certain specified times when the Order-in-Council stated they must run. * " This is an experiment that the corporation is making," he said, " and it is a big, costly, and far-reaching experiment. The council has the power to apply to have the present authority amended, and I suggest it is proper to-day that all ratepayers should see that what liberties are left to them should be preserved. What the council has the right to do is to give notice that it intends to make alterations. Then, under the provisions of the Order-in-Council, 5 per cent, of the ratepayers can ask for a poll. The civic authorities know that perfectly well. It is their business to know these things. I am not imputing any motives when I say they are doing things this way to avoid a poll. I am convinced that the men in authority believe they are doing what is in the best interests of the residents, but we have our own ideas about what is best for us. and we have the right that they should be considered. The corporation is trying to take a 'short cut,' and the residents have the right to be consulted. There is no wrong without a remedy, and perhaps this is a matter that can be tested with perfect friendliness in the Supreme Court." Increased Fares? The chairman: I have been asked what will happen to the tram fares if the trams are retained. I have been told emphatically by Cr D. G. McMillan that if the trams are retained the fares will go up. A voice: The council is an elected body, remember. Anyway, where does Cr McMillan get his authority for such a statement? Isn't he on the minority side of the council? After further general discussion, Messrs Black, Sincock. G. T. Dennis, J. Sutherland Ross, R. T. Stewart, J. G. Strack. J. Hunter. S. de Beer, Davey, and Clark were appointed a General Committee to investigate all aspects of the question and report to a later gene* ral meeting of ratepayers. "We are in deadly earnest about this," concluded the chairman. A voice: Then tell the council to taka the buses off to-morrow. —(Applause..» A suggestion came from the back ot the hall that a deputation should R< y down then to that evening's meeting of the City Council. The chairman said that perhaps the City Council would be asked later to come to a meeting of ratepayers and explain things.