Trolley Buses In Exchange

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27259, 9 December 1949, Page 8

Trolley Buses In Exchange

RATEPAYERS DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES

The need for “through routes” for the new trolley bus services, instead of dead end services, and the provision of a central point Other than the Exchange were the main points raised at a meeting of ratepayers’ representatives held in the RSA dining room last night. It was stated that if the central point for the new services was to be the Exchange there would be congestion of traffic.

A number of speakers favoured a proposal sponsored by the North-east Valley Ratepayers’ Association that the central point should be in the Queen’s Gardens, while the representatives of this association and the Anderson’s Bay organisation expressed the view that the old Exchange building should be cleared out, as suggested on various occasions, and a civic square established through which all the services could operate. Thirteen organisations were represented.

The meeting was called at the instigation o£ the North-East Valley Association, and Mr R. J. Corkin, on its behalf, outlined the purposes for which the various representatives had been called together. He asked Mr S. Meed, who was not connected with his executive, to .take the chair. ,

Expressing his association’s views, Mr Corkin said the new transport system would follow nearly the present tram routes, and at the Exchange, especially when the vehicular actuated lights were in operation, the area was too confined to cope with wheel and pedestrian traffic. Three trolley buses, he said, would be required to take the load of one tram, so it was not difficult to visualise the density of traffic which would result It would be far easier and less expensive to create a central point elsewhere right now than leave it for a later date when the system was operating. ~v - Alternatives to the Exchange which had been suggested were the Queens Gardens, the Railway Station, or the centre of the Octagon, which could be widened, vehicular traffic other than trolley buses being diverted round the Octagon. . Mr Corkin read to the meeting the schedule list of services to be installed, which led Mr F. R. Gill (Wakari) to remark that there was • going to be. a lot of cluttering up In the city. It appeared that no provision had been made for through routes such as from a mil suburb to Anderson’s Bay or the one from the Valley serving another area. His association considered it was wrong for everything to be leaving from the Exchange.

Mr E C Stanton (North-East Valiev) said his association considered that sufficient thought had not been given to the proposed services. He had yet to speak to a councillor who knew anything about the route to be adopted. “We have the opportunity to.establish through services and to do away with dead-end cable car lines, he said, “but instead we are going to have ‘U’ loops or turns in such places like High street, in the most congested part of the city.” Mr L. E, Hill (Caversham) expressed ■ similar views, but favoured the Railway Station as a central trolley bus point. ?' If the city moved the old Exchange Building it would be all right to make the. traffic centre at that point, he said. Mr. M. C. Henderson (Roslyn) pointed out to the meeting that in the letter from the town clerk it was stated that provision could be made for any modification of existing proposals if any such proposals came within the limits of the £750,000 loan. Could that be done? He queried the suggestion that it would require three trolley buses to . handle one electric tramcar load. -He expressed-: the view v that the new System could be made to pay if it was not over-capitalised. Get the service established, be said, and other services would follow. Through routes would, be established at the outset. They cbuld not all be through routes, he said. » ' " The Anderson’s Bay\ delegate said his association was inclined to take the line suggested by Mr Henderson. He did not think the. apociation would favour the railway as a central point. Mr A. Mcßae (Maori Hill), putting the problems of his district forward, said the natural route was via Drivers road. They should get together and devise the best possible scheme for the general benefit of Dunedin.

Mrs S. C. MacArthur (Morntngton) said she wished to speak for the mothers, and strongly supported through services. There was too much transferring from one tram to another, especially for mothers with babies in prams, she said.

Mr Hunter (Brockville) said it appeared no; provision had been made for the lower Kaikorai Valley district Was the district to have a feeder service? he asked.

Mr Stanton, answering Mr Henderson’s question concerning costs, said that any of the proposals suggested by the . Valley Association could be carried out within the limit of the £750,000. There would not be a lot of costly loops to build. “I do not believerahy sane person thinks for a minute that Dunedin can change over from trams, cable cars and buses to a trolley bus service for that figure,” he added. “I think it will cost well over £1,000.000. The loan will only touch the fringe.” After further discussion it was decided that delegates go back to their associations with the views expressed and to call a further meeting in February next.