From the Kearney Files
Bondi Daily 13thAugust 1930.
Eastern Suburbs Railway,
Elfric lectures to packed meeting.
The thereto four hundred people who attended the meeting of the Bondi Improvement and Publicity League on Thursday last night, at the International Hotel Cabaret, listened with absorbed attention to the lecture, illustrated by lantern slides and a short film, given by Mr. Chalmers Kearney, the inventor of the system which the interests behind him are prepared to erect to serve the Eastern Suburbs --- if certain necessary guarantees are given by the State Government.
After Mr. Kearney had explained the comparative diagrams showing the economical nature, gain in speed, cheaper working and maintenance costs costs as compared with the ordinary type of railway and motor buses, the film showing models, such as those exhibited at David Jones, in operation climbing gradients, utilizing very ingeniously the force of gravity to save power.
One pertinent questioner enquired whether the Kearney system had as yet been installed on a commercial basis in any part of the world; the reply to which was in the negative.
Questioned as to the cost of construction and time likely to be occupied in building the line, Mr. Kearney replied that the first mile and a quarter, where heavy tunneling was necessary, would cost about £1,000,000 a mile. The time of construction, he estimated, at three years. Mr. Overhill, in an apparently appreciative mood, here interjected: "We want plenty of money and plenty of work!" to which Mr. Davis added: "Some of the 3d in the £ a week should go towards building the Eastern Suburbs Railway!"
Mr. Walters finally moved: That this meeting of Bondi residents are of the opinion that the Eastern Suburbs Railway is necessary and commends the Kearney system to the Government's consideration.
The Chairman (Mr. A. Walker), asked Alderman Rather if he was in a position to inform the meeting whether Waverley Council has taken any action in the matter.
Alderman Rather explained that Council at its last meeting had adopted a resolution to call a conference of all the other Eastern Suburban municipalities with a view to urging the various parliamentary representatives the desirability of accepting an offer to build this long promised and essential line by private enterprise.
Alderman Rather then extended a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Kearney, expressing the hope that his efforts would meet with success.
Mr. B. Kinney supported Alderman Esther's vote and Captain Dunn also spoke to it.
It was decided that the best thing which could be done as the outcome of the resolution was to get behind the Waverley Council and support it with the utmost weight the League could give.
Mr. Kearney, in reply, stated the reception given him was pleasing. He hoped that something definite would be the outcome of the enthusiastic meeting.
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