Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 166, 19 July 1946, Page 4

Public Opinion

UPPER ARAMOHO TRAMS

Sir, - A misapprehension appears to have been caused by my remarks at i hr? recent luncheon of the Wanganui Citizens' Association regarding lhe Upper Aramoho tram service. IL elected to the City Council, 1 have no intention whatever of advocating that this service be curtailed. At the luncheon I mentioned that the length of the Upper Aramoho tram line was merely uie instance of the unsound planning or lack of planning of our city in its earner history that is responsible for the crushing burden of our rates. This line was, 1 contended built to an obviously uneconomic distance from the centre of the town, while considerable areas of good building land nearer town had remained undeveloped. But the line Is already there, the capital has al[ready been sunk, mid many homos have been built on the assumption that the tram service will continue. Nothing, therefore, was further from my mind than to suggest that the ■ twice should not be maintained. As a result of the lack of planning to which I alluded, we have to mamtain 98 miles of roadway as against 67 miles in Palmerston North, a town of similar size, and a mere 56 iniiein Ixiwer HOtt, which has a population of 33,000. Our abnormal length of roadway and hence of gas and water pipes and sewers - is a principal

cause of our appalling rates burden: and any similar lark of forethought and planning must. I contend, bo resolutely guarded against in the future. - f am. Pto - ROY E. JACK.