CORRESPONDENCE

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 223, 18 September 1894, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

—♦

The city council.

(To the Editor.)

Sib,—Lasb Thursday's meeting of the City Council was one of considerable interesb not only to the ratepayers but tbe citizens. Why the reading of the letters of Mrs Daldy and Mr Goldie should cause " much amusement" is.difficulb. to understand. One would think the Councillors would, have been thankful that atiy citizen should have called their attention to overcrowding, and that some Councillor "would have seized the opportuniby for calling attention to the necessity for such a state of things being remedied if possible. With the large area of land we have in the vicinity of the city, a considerable portion of Which is only suitable for building purposes, in a Semi-tropical climate like ours houses should not bo allowed to be built so closely as to easily develop into alums, which affect injuriously the physical and moral health, nob only of thoße bhere residing, but the Whole city. Thab calling attention to these things caused much amusement does nob reflecb credib on the Council. That ex-councillors should be thauked for their past services is understandable, that an implied co-sure should be passed upon burgesßea because they did not see fib to re elect, is certainly oub of place. One wonders ab the necessity of continuing an ex-councillor as representative on a Board to which the Council are supposed to send representatives. There may be cogent reasons for ib, possibly there are. We recently had a case of an" ex-councillor retaining a seat in bhe Harbour Board, representing no one bub- himself. These things are not healbhy.

Then we have the application of Mr Eidd, for permission for the trams to run on the Sunday.

It would be interesting to know ii: bbc original agreement botween the Council and the owners of the trams is still in force ; if not, when was it altered? <.

I fully endorse your editorial on thia subject, and trust the working men and women will voice opinions and be consistent) in extending to all the boon of the weekly rest day. If the idea is to make tbe trams a greater public benefit, I would suggesb the abolition of the double fare after eight o'clock. No business man charges double after eight, the employees do not geb double wages; whab good reason exists for the charge ?

Thursday night's proceedings show, that Mr Hutchison's Bill, which seeks to enlarge the municipal franchise, is on right lines, the Council's work being of interesb „to_.eyery citizen, only a minority of whom Are on the burgess roil.—Hani,'etc...■:".* ,-•,-'■ . Citizix. .