WILL TRAMS TO NORTH BEACH BE RESTORED ?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18450, 28 April 1928, Page 2

WILL TRAMS TO NORTH BEACH BE RESTORED ?

QUESTION NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY BOARD

Although the proposal to discontinue the tram service between Burwood and North Beach was carried by * majority of nearly two to one at the poll of ratepayers of the tramway district held last April, attempts are still being made to secure the reinstatement of the service, and it is probable that the matter will shortly become a live issue with the Tramway Board.

Since the poll was taken the Tramway Board election has been held, and it is understood that the present members are about evenly divided on the question whether the service should be reinstated. The recent appointment of Mr H. Pearce as a member of the board is believed to have strengthened the position of those desiring to see the North Beach trams restored.

On account of considerable delay taking place in the issue of the Order-in-Council authorising the board to remove the line, that work has not yet been carried out, and the advocates of the reinstatement of the trams have suggested that the line could be made safe for traffic at a cost very considerably less than the original estimate of about £40,000. They are also putting forward the view that the decision of the ratepayers merely gave authority for the removal of the line and was not mandatory.

Some of the new members of the board have Expressed themselves as favourable to the reinstatement of the service, but as the matter has not been put to a vote of the board since the election it is not clear on which side the majority now is. It is understood, however, that the question is at present under consideration and that in the near fut Lire the board will come to a final decision. Mr G. T. Booth, who recently resigned from the board, was strongly opposed to a reinstatement of the service, and it has been stated that the question had a distinct bearing on the appointment of his successor. It is interesting to recall that when the poll was taken thirty-four ratepayers at North Beach voted in favour of the proposal to remove the line and ninety-one against. The voting at Central New Brighton was much closer.