TRANSPORT FACILITIES

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 72, 27 April 1929, Page 4

TRANSPORT FACILITIES

The public of Napier and. surruunding dibiricts gladly noto a grosving movement to impress npon the City Couneil the necessity for intproving local transporf iacililics. This duty will he one of the first to oecupy the altention of the incoming Couneil. The siluation presents two pliuses. One comprises Ihe exiension of ihe Napier South tram system to the Boys' ITigh School, and. the other Ihe provision of better transport facilities between Taradale and Napier. As to the first, seeing that the Kailwav Dcpartmcnt is now seeking to co-operate with the Couneil in the mai ler of crossings, and also noting that loan moneys borrowed. for the jturpose are in hand for eompletion of the Napier South systein as alreadv dccided upon, there are practically no difficultics in sight. The amount held by the Couneil to provide for the completion of this is £18,700. Failing definite engineering estimates we cannot say whetfier this sum will he quite sufficient to complete the work, but at all events the financial outlook in connection with this project is reassuring. We are not taking.a too optimistic view when we venture to suggest tliat, in view of all the conditions Ihe Napier South extension will he complet-ed within the near future. The suggestcd Taradale-Napier line of communication, wliile just as urgently calling for prompt consideration as the other, is perhaps to be regarded as in a different category. It is already clear that when the conditions come to be finally discussed, there will be found differenc.es of oninion as to

whether the communication should be provided for by a tramwav 01* hv trackless motor buses. This need not delav arrival at a settlement. What is wanied is clieap and rcgular means of transport. There are many reasons for hokling tliat a tramwav would be the better from several points of view, but the point is that nothing suggestting acrimonv should he allowed to affect the diseussion. Perhaps in favour of the trackless huses scheme are the possibilities arising out of the functihning of the Highways Board. A" hituminised road between Napier and Taradale — a reasonably sound possibility, hv the wav — would materially affect any decision as fo the best melhod of providing the transport facilities so urgently needed. This, however, nee-d not delay consideration of the main question. It is one calling for co-operation between thc Taradale Town Board and the Napier City Couneil. The incoming Napier City Couneil, we lliink, should take the initiative :n bringing this about. It would, we are convincedk find a vready response on ihe part of the Taradale Town Board. From the first that bodv has manifested a strikingly progressive atiitude and a keen desire to advanoe ihe interests of the aitraetive residential area it controls. As a matter of fact Taradale has already made it clear that it would welcome and support any sound proposal for providing adequate transport facilities between it and Napier. If, as we hope will he ihe case, ihe new City Couneil moves in the matter, it will find, we are Sure, boih thc people of Taradale and iis local governing bodv eagerly responsive. The posiiinn is oue wliich closely concerns hoth local hodies. Taradale offers by iis aitraetive area of good land, lying high and dry, wide facilities for residential settlement, and thcse in turn offer to Napier a welcome offset to the congested conditions it has to deplore. 1b is certain that with clieap and regular transport communication between the two areas Taradale would attract manv now resident in Napier, but desirous of ohtaining home siles with more ample gardening facilities than thev can now ohtain. The more conciliatory attitude of the Bailway Department in regard to tram crossings has brought this question to the immediate front. But for the different frame of mind which formerlv prevailed, the tramwav extension to at least as far as Kinross White street would have heen now running. The willingness now of the department, as expressed in its latest offer, to meet the City Coun'il, lays upon that bodv the dutv of taking prompt and practical action in regard to the Napier South extension. Doing this provides an opportunity for the City Couneil to also initiate progressive measures in regard to improved transport facilities between Taradale and Napier.