ONLY A START

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26379, 6 February 1947, Page 5

ONLY A START

TROLLEY BUS PROPOSALS EXPLANATION BY MAYOR “We must make a start somewhere with the trolley bus service,, but as the demand grows there will be nothing to prevent the City Council making considerable extensions and making any other changes that are necessary.” This was stated by the Mayor, Mr- Cameron, at a meeting in the Wakari School Hall last night to hear an explanaiton of the proposals for the introduction of trolley buses to replace the present trams, the lifting of the tram rails and the provision of a modern highway from Albert street to Roslyn and Wakari, for which a loan of £858,000 is asked for. Mr John Allen, president of the Wakari Improvement Society, who presided, said that the residents of the district were pleased to know that the City Council favoured a more modern transport service than the present one, but some concern was expressed because it was proposed that the terminus for the trolley buses should be at Bunting’s Store. Mr Cameron said that the proposals had to be submitted to the Local Government Loans Board so that its authority could be obtained for submitting the question to a poll of the ratepayers. It would be for the 14,000 ratepayers concerned to decide the matter on February 28. If the ratepayers expressed themselves in favour of the loan there would be nothing to prevent the present council or any other council from making any changes desired. In answer to a question. Cr L. M. Wright said that the loan proposals were based on the fares and the routes at present in operation. ' Cr L. J. Ireland, redylng to a question about possible alternative routes, explained that the Albert street one was found to be the most satisfactory. Cr J. McCrae. chairman of the City Council Transport Committee, said that the proposed route would enable the residents of Wakari “to go home and have lunch ” because the distance would be half a mile shorter and the service would be a good deal quicker than at present.