Christchurch Electric Trucks, 1920s

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Photo by Adam MacLay. Alexander Turnbull Library.

Lest anyone think that electric trucks were not up to the task of hauling a heavy load, these Orwell trucks of the New Zealand Express Co. stand laden with Michelin tyres on a Christchurch street.

And for the ladies, something that was "simple of operation" and would not "soil the gloves" was in order. Heaven forbid that any would wish to drive an Orwell electric truck...

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Magnus, Sanderson & Co., Ltd., Wellington, seller of The Detroit Electric, an ideal lady's car. 1917

Alexander Turnbull Library

Update:

The New Zealand Express Co building, artist sketch 1905

A sign of Christchurch's prosperity in the early twentieth century, the New Zealand Express Co building designed by the Luttrell brothers was at 7 stories the tallest building in New Zealand at the time of its completion. The trucks in the picture above are located at the far left of the building "around the corner". The photo below includes yet another truck that appears to have been backed up to the first Orwell. Two different photographers are credited with the respective photos - a photo shoot by truck papparazzi or a misattribution?

photo by Adam Henry Pearson. Alexander Turnbull Library

And a fossil-fueled specimen of the type that would dominate for the next century:

photo by Adam Henry Pearson. Alexander Turnbull Library

Christchurch City Council Belt-Tightening?

With the economy in recession now for over a year and the prospect of the increased expense of moving into a renovated postal warehouse as its new Christchurch Civic Centre at an annual rent of $8.2 million, the Christchurch City Council is rumoured to be considering its options to restore fiscal balance.

To that end, we wonder if there might be any advantage to the CCC ordering up from storage its electric truck fleet from the early 1920s which would have the added advantage of enabling the Council to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reductions...

photographer, Samuel Heath Head. Alexander Turnbull Library.
click on photo for larger image

... otherwise it's shank's pony for council employees and ratepayers.