NEW PLYMOUTH TRAM SERVICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 50, 2 June 1916, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH TRAM SERVICE.

OFFICSAL OPENING. The New Plymouth electric tramway service was officially opened at New Plymouth yesterday, there being a large attendance, including many visitors.

The Mayor (Mr C. H. Burgess) in 'the course of his remarks, said the i direct charge for interest ami sinking fund against the tramway system would by on £OO,OOO only. This liability, with working expenses, would !• necessitate receipts of something like £2OO per week, or, 'taking the popula- ' tion roughly at eight thousand, it meant 26.8 per year for every man, wo- , man and child in the borough. He j went on to say he was not optimistic j enough to think they could obtain such | returns for two or three years. . Tiie j experience of other towns, however. I has been that the loss has not been as heavy as anticipated, and New Plymouth hoped that the same may be said of their own line. Though there may be a direct loss for some little time, it was thought the indirect benefit to. be set against that loss will to a large extent minimise the same. Mr J. E. Wilson (ex-Mayor) in the course of his remarks, said he considered that the town was on the eve oi great development. There was every prospect of; the harbor being opened to large ocea.n-go.iiig vessels. In a few months j thp, freezing works would } be| open.,, There should be considerable expansion of population within the next two or three.years. If the people of New Plymouth were prepared to do more for their town than they; had .done in, the. past they could .not; fail to make headway. j Mr J. W. Boon, .Mayor of Stratford, congratulated the burgesses on .Urn new tramway service and the very fine cars, which he considered second to none' in. New Zealand.. He hoped they would bo recouped for their outlay before very long. New Plymouth was already a very attractive place, and no. doubt this additional convenience would be much appreciated by visitors, j Other visitors spoke on similar lines, and those present were afterwards , the guests of the Mayoress at, afternoon tea in the Fitzroy Hall'.