HALF-MILLION LOAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 16

HALF-MILLION LOAN

COUNCILLORS EXPLAIN SMALL PARNELL MEETING There was only a small attendance at Parnell Library Hall last evening, when the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, presided, and several councillors were present to explain the proposals for the £500,000 loan to extend city tramways and build new tramcars. Councillor S. I. Crookes outlined and explained the new tramway scheme to come into operation on October 1. Mentioning that only 30 per cent, of the revenue at present came from concession cards, which would, in some cases show an increase under the new scheme. Councillor Crookes mentioned that the 30 per cent, was made up as follows: —One section, 8; two section, 11.45; three section, 8.36; four section, 4.0; total, 31.81 per cent. In all about 5 per cent, of the total number of users would have to make a sacrifice, and the council was trying to benefit the majority. Councillor Eady said the tram v. bus controversy was over. So far as the city was concerned it had now to use one in conjunction with the other. INCREASED REVENUE NOW He remarked that in the four months since March last, tram and bus receipts had been £30,000 more than in the 1926 period. The rapid growth of settlement at Point Chevalier and beyond the Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Edendale and Remuera termini showed that the extensions were certain to pay within a few years. The proposed loops would save much dead running, the bus depots, for which £70,000 was set apart, were necessary and the 50 more tramcars, costing £152,000, would be needed to meet the growth of traffic. Those now in use were not sufficient for present needs. Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Tramways Committee, was called upon to answer a number of questions. He said the present council was not responsible for the past, and preferred not to discuss it. He could not say how much had been paid for private bus concerns, as the court had not fixed some of the amounts. Losses on buses were being met out of the tramway fund, and the loan had no connection with buying buses or meeting losses on them.

In reply to other questions, Mr. Allum said every possible economy was being made and a considerable sum had been saved already this year.