TRAMWAY REFERENDUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 2

TRAMWAY REFERENDUM.

j (To the Editor.) , . S* r J —l have waited with some curiosity hoping and expecting that upon a qiiestion of such importance as this — the lengthening of the already long period of thirty years' monopoly granted to the Tramway Company to 32 years— some councillor of light and leading might have had something to say for or against the subject. I have not been able to help noticing a general disposition on the part of people I have come across to grumble at and begrudge the Tramway Company the apparent prosperity of their enterprise. I deprecate that feeling, as well as petty attempts to harrass the company in any way. But all the more I would like to persuade my fellow-citizens that it is necessary to wake up over municipal matters. Regarding this question. Why was it left for us to deal with? Our representatives -who granted the concession must have felt that 30 years was long enough, but it seems as though they had not enough backbone to say ' so. That fact alone I think should jShow us our duty to the city and to posterity. Compared with services running in small towns, I have in my mind's eye, our service is sadly wanting. The cars are narrow, inconvenient, and uncomfortable, not too clean, badly upholstered, noisy, dusty, and dear. Should it be our wish to continue this state of things a day longer than is necessary, for it should be borne in mind, as time goes on, it is in the nature of things likely to be worse rather than better —the business of the syndicate is to earn dividends and to pull all they can out of it. When the concession was first asked for it was known to both parties that Jhe system could not be laid down In five minutes, and I venture to assert, without fear of contradiction, that a sufficient margin of anticipated profit was allowed to cover that as well as contingencies. Citizens who vote against this extension will be endeavouring to conserve the assets of the community, as in process of time it may be necessary to raise money for useful public purposes upon the prospective income of the tramways, the inheritance of the people. Shall we rob ourselves, metaphorical.'y speaking, "by feeding the fat pig?" It is most necessary to be '' up and doing," because only by voting against the proposal can it be scotched; remaining at home will be practicaly voting for the extended period. I have travelled over most of the Empire, and have visited '< most of its cities, and lived in many of I them, and I am able to say with confidence that town councils and city councils managed these things better in every way than private concerns do. Fellow-citizens, let us benefit by the experience of these older countries, and cut this monopoly as short as possible. —I am, etc., ' WAKE-UP. _______________ »