From the Kearney Files
Bondi Daily August 1930
In a letter dated 22nd July. 1930, stated that the State Government has been offered money to build the Eastern Suburbs Railway by public tenderers, they will accept for the cost of construction of the railway in Government bonds for five years and upwards, non - negotiable for two years at current rates of interest.
It was suggested that the council should communicate with the other Eastern Suburbs Councils and endeavour to force the Government to definitely decide upon the construction of the railway.
Mr. E. W. Chalmers Kearney,writing on the 23rd July, 2930, drew attention to the working model of the Kearney High Speed Railway, now on exhibition at David Jones Department Store Sydney, and asked for an opportunity to demonstrate this under working conditions to the council.
He further stated that he is prepared to provide the Eastern Suburbs Railway and accept payment by Government bonds having a currency of five years at the present rate of interest.
Considerable discussion, strongly favourable to the suggestion, took place.
Alderman Polyblank was insistent that council should make a definite expression in favour of the acceptance of an offer of the sort submitted.
Government, he stated, was now undertaking non - reproductive works , while the Eastern Suburbs Railway construction had been postponed.
"If Government has not got the money they should avail themselves of the money which is offering," he said. "Something definite should come from this council", he added.
He moved finally to the effect " that this council was of the opinion that the Eastern Suburbs Railway will reproductive from its inauguration, and that this council can see no objection to its construction by private enterprise."
A reservation was made that while the construction by private enterprise was desirable, the undertaking should not remain in private hands indefinitely.
Alderman Williams pointed out that one eighth of the population of the State lived in the Eastern Suburbs and stressed the inadequacy of its transport facilities. The acceptance of such an offer was not a party question, and never has been. " If Government cannot do it , then private enterprise should be allowed to come in," he concluded.
Alderman Midleton also favoured the idea of the construction by private enterprise. He thought that Waverley Council should take a lead in the matter and that a determined expression should be made as to the construction by private enterprise. In doing so he thought council would be voicing the opinions of all the ratepayers and residents of Waverley. He did not wish to suggest that the particular work should be carried out by the particular party which was offering to do the work, but the idea of private enterprise was sound . He spoke of the success of railways built in other parts of the Empire by private enterprise.
"Council will be voicing the will of the majority of the people in getting behind council in an attempt to approach Government to ask it to see what can be done by private enterprise," he added.
Alderman Rather was also strongly in favour of pressure being brought to bear Inthe direction of seeing that Government made some attempt to carry out the construction by private enterprise. "I think there should be no more delay in the matter," he stated.
" There seems to be a chance of getting something done and we ought to co - operate with other municipalities.
It was decided eventually that council should call a conference with the other municipalities interested, and that all the Aldermen should be delegates to such a meeting.
Comments
Post a Comment