THE ONE-MAN TRAMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 6

THE ONE-MAN TRAMS

LABOUR’S OPPOSITION ’ ■ UR. A. E. HALLIGAN'S REVIEW. 1 HOW MR. ■ \BI.I-, WAS I MPIJM l-.D. ’ ' Al a meeting uf electors at, Upper Aiaim,-ho last night Cr. A. E. Halligan, chairman of the Tramways Committee, reiterated that the installation of the one-man tram system in Wanganui had saved the service from collapse. He aid that Labour had fought to the last ditch against the one-man train system, and if Labour had had its way there would have been no- tramway system in Wanganui to-day.

' Air. Rogers and Mr. Robertson, members of the Labour Party, are now claiming to have had some part in putting the trams on a sound basis,’’ Mr. Halligan proceeded. “Nobody opposed me more than those two gentlemen ami the Labour Party. Mr. Rogers claims that he was the first to go to Wellington to get Mr. Cable to come and report on the trams. That trip of his, and I went with him, cost the ratepayers £2OO, and it was not our expenses. 1 had laid my plans on the table as to what I thc-ught should be done with the trams, but Labour fought and fought fur over ten moniJis. When we were at the last ditch and getting the thing through they asked to cull in Mr- Cable, the tramway engineer of Wellington. .1 told them that J. did net think Mr. Cable was necessary, but I was so sure of my ground that I agreed, and Mr. Rogers and i were sent to Wellington to see him. When Mr. Cable came to Wanganui I told the late Mr. Deem that J did not want to see him until he had written his report. I didn’t want to influence him in any way, and L did not see him until the day he had I finished. .Mr. Deem rang and advised l me that Mr. Cable’s report was ready! and I went down and saw him. He [ had recommended exactly what I had wanted the council to do, and we had to pay £2OO for that advice. “For ten solid months we had battled on with men sitting down doing nothing, and Mr. Rogers would not let them go. If the Labour members had been reasonable men the saving to the city that year would have been anything from £lOOO to £2OOO. Gradually we got the thing through with a majority of one. but if we had had reasonable support from Mr. Rogers the service would have hud another ten months in which to right itself and the position would be far better it is to-day. For the first time in its history the service has more than paid expenses and has contributed £18')0 to interest and sinking fund. If wc had done what Labour wanted us Io do the city would now’ be without a tramway service at all.”