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Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3535, 28 May 1912, Page 4

There is a valuable lesson for those

The Error of “Cheapness.”

boroughs which are installing tramways in the third annual report on the Wan-

gnnui system. It has been well known all v along, of course, that the permanent way in connection with the service under notice was never all that might be desired. Now, however, that the system has been in operation for several years the error of cheapness that was committed in regard to its construction is more than ever apparent. In the course of his report the engineer and manager says: '“Speaking ’generally, the permanentway is only in fair condition. The cost of upkeep is fairly heavy for practically a new track, and there is no prospect of improvement in this respect-. There is-nqw being felt the consequences entailed by the policy adopted when the track was’formed of preferring cheapness to all other

considerations. When originally laid the track was put on a very poor foundation, and the rails throughout the system, being only 631 b, are light, and will always give trouble at the joints in their present condition, -especially, when the foundation is bad. At the beginning of last year I had the worst places between Culver s corner and Aramolio attended to, but J these places are again out of order, and practically the whole track from Culver’s corner to Aramohq terminus is in a bad state. The pumice foundation is the chief cause of trouble, which, however, is accentuated by the fact that the road being of a higher level, allows the surface water to drain on to the track. r J he only method, in my opinion, for dealing with this trouble is to have each year - a portion of the track relaid on a good foundation.” Wanganui, it will be seen, lias, therefore, now to face a good deal of expenditure in order to bring its lines up to a much more satisfactory standard. Where the cost is to come from is not clear, except that the system cannot afford to bear any of the burden. As Wanganui is not much larger than Gisborne it may be of interest to mention that the service under notice, although it has been in operation some three years, lias only just “turned the corner” from a financial point of view. Tor the previous year a debit balance of £263 had to be recorded; but this it is now averred was turned into a c-re-bit balance of £95 last year. Under the circumstances there is, however, no guarantee that the coming year will show any profit in view of the heavy maintenance charges - that wcnla seem likely to be incurred. So it would seem, therefore, that in gara to tramways as in regard to most, if not all, other works it pays best if in the first instance the work is built well.