BUS OR TRAM?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17474, 27 February 1925, Page 7

BUS OR TRAM?

WILL WELLINGTON SCRAP ITS LINES? ORIENTAL BAY PROJECT. (Special to the “ Star. ) WELLINGTON ! • >ruary -7Should Wellington tramway tracks? This quest»t-i ’ l i ‘ s reached an important stage wit tne C'itv Council, which discussed it briefly last night. The City Ratepayers’ Association submitted a lengthy resolution urging the council not only to stop laying further tram track extensions, but to remove many of: the existing tracks, substituting trackless electric ’buses as being more convenient and loss troublesome to other traffic. The chairman of the Tramways Committee brought before the council the question of relaying the Orient a 1 Bay tramway, serving an important residential district with scenic attractions. He stated that the cost of removing the track would be great. A twenty-four foot strip of bitumen was going round the parade, and the c«-l of renewing the tram track would equal the cost of paving the road from kerb to kerb. This would makn an enormous difference to the parade, which was an entirely residential area, and lie asked that the council shoul 1 give special consideration to the facts and decide whether the line should be renewed or whether a bitumen road should be put down. the permanent way abandoned, and trackless trams ruu from the Bay to Courtenay Place. A councillor: I think that the position justifies a special meeting of tha committee concerned. It should bo held at once. The Mayor: That’s all very well, but where is the money to come from ? Councillor Forsyth : The cost of renewing the track. I am assured by the officers, would be more than tho cost of putting down a bitumen road Councillor Burns said that the matter was one equally for the Works Committee and the Tramways Commit tee. It might be advisable to call a meeting of the whole of the council. They should have a full meeting and obtain a report from the engineer on the subject of ’bus v. tram. The Mayor: I think the matter is one for the Tramways Committee. The council passed on to the con sideration of other business.