ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7328, 14 February 1902, Page 1

ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

— — ♦ ' .■• . ■ PROPOSALS TO RUN THEM IN CHRISTCHURCH. OFFERS FROM AN ENGLISH COMPANY. Yesterday afternoon, a reporter from this journal had a short chat with Mr P. M. Hansen, Australasian representative of tne British Electric Traction. Companvj of London.. . . . - ■ Mr Hansen; has been in Auckland recent* ly, in connection with the electrical tram system there,' which his. company is" •. .^j.x^nteolling^...^..;. heard that " ~ther e ' was culty in regard 1 to the tramways 'her>7;'he ' "has come down .to see if the city arid suburban bodies will consider schemes he is prepared to place before them. He says that when he first went to Auckland, some time, ago, it was in very much the same position as Christchurdh is at present, there being difficulties between, the city arid the suburban . bodies. "We stepped in and "Seated them all alike," he says, "provid-i)ag->tbe money to- -construct' the trains, and running tnem on certain conditions." . "What concessions were given by the bodies?" "The lease is for thirty-two years, for which term we have the right. to the roads. We pay a street rent, and also give the bodies a percentage of our nek profits." "Do you intend to make the same offers to the bodies in ChristchurchT' "We are prepared to make two offers, and the bodies here can choose either of. them. The first is, that our company should provide all the money, construct and equip all the lines, pay a street rent, and share the profits, which will be disbursed to the different bodies according to the mileage within their boundaries. We will keep the lines and the plant in good working order, and when the concessions run" out, the bodies will have the power to buy out everything at a valuation, without paying anything for tne goodwill." "Over how many years would the concessions extend 1" ".Well, the terms vary considerably. There is one term in Adelaide for forty •years, and the term in Auckland is thirtytwo years. The smallest number of years we have fixed in this respect is twentyone." "Our second proposal is. that the local bodies should provide the money. In that case, my company would construct the lines •under the supervision of the authorities, and in accordance with their stipulations, and they would grant my company a 'lease. We would guarantee the interest they would have to pay for the necessary loans ; and, besides this, we could pay them, in-" lieu of rent, a certain sum of money each year| co that, at <the expiration of the lease .they would 1 ■ have refunded themselves to the extent "of the amount originally invested. This meajjs practically that when the concessions expired, the ; local ' bodies would -have .paad off their loan,, without having had to find interest on it. My company would undertake, as: in the firsst proposal, to maintain the plant and rollingstock in thoroughly good order and repair. The authorities would) have the albeokte right /to fix not only the maximum fares but also the time-tables.'' " How long would.it be before the service %ras ready for uee?" . ■■ "We are in a specially fortunaite position

to expedite matters. Mr W. S. Turner, representative of our general contractors, is in Christeh-uroh, with me, and. all the constructing' plant is ready in Auckland. I should say that Trader these circuanistaiiees we -n-ould; be aible to have the service ready for traffic in albout eighteen- months from the time the Order-in-Council has been, issued. We would have thirty-five or forty miles v of tracks. We would follow practically the same route as at present, bub would extend) it five or ten miles. In some places, however, where the traffic was very 'heavy, we would have double tracks." " What would be the cost of the system?" "I should siy, roughly, between £350,000 a-rodi £400,000. That would) include the , power station, the rails, cars, and' everything." ' . • " Afc what rate would) you run the trams ; and will "the plant be similar to iQxaf dn Auckland?" " Within the city boundaries, and in any congested, streets, the rate of speed would be 'from ten to twelve miles an hour; 1 in the outlying parte it would be from twenty to twenty-fiva miles an hour. As to the cars, we would have more double-deckers in Christchurch than there are in Auckland. This would be allowable on account of the level nature of the country. A good many of the old cars could be used as 'trailer^,' and ib would not be necessary to import more than twenty-five or thirty motor-cars. When the scheme was in working order, between 250 and' 300 men would be constantly employed, and during construction there would be at least 1000 men at work. I may a<M that my ooarjtpamy holds a unique pos|tion in regard to this kind of business. We have about sixty subsidiary companies, wihic'rf we finance, control and manage. Our officers ha^ve had a great deal of experience, and we are therefore in a good position to make a success of these undertakings, financially and otherwise. The Chairman of our Board of Directors is Sir Charles Rivers Wilson, wfio was at one time Finance Minister in Egypt. Among the directors, also, are Lord Rathmiqre, Sir C. W. Fremantle, and Mr J. - S. Raworth, tihe eminent electrical engineer. On the engineering staff there are eighty men, and among them is Mr F. Black, a young engineer from Christchurch. '" Business calls mie back to Auckland soon. On may arrival there I will issue a circular to the local 'bodies here setting forth my proposals, and asking permission to address their delegates ls,ter on."