TRAMWAYS AT DEVONPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 226, 21 September 1906, Page 2

TRAMWAYS AT DEVONPORT.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —It seems not at all an unlikely thing that the residents will wake up only too late to find that a great move has been made without their advice or consent. It has been stated that the, Devonport Borough Council intend giving a foreign company the option for the tramways in the borough. It is even stated that the option has already been granted. Now, as a resident and ratepayer and one who takes a very deep and personal interest in this charming suburb, I must strongly protest against any such course on the part of the council. Not one word has leaked out in the Press as to the terms of the option; still more, apparently not a member of the council knows the personnel of the mysterious company who are represented by a local solicitor. If the affair is a good thing and in the best interests of the borough, then why this secrecy? Further, it is a patent fact that the advent of trams will enormously enhance the value and accessibility of adjacent lands, and population will very rap : .dly increase. It will then dawn on the ratepayers that the council by their supineness have commuted a fatal blunder.

J ani strongly impressed with this one idea, and the more it is thought of, the stronger will it reasonableness appear. And it is this—That the public streets and thoroughfares should be absolutely I held and controlled by the municipality. That no body on any terms whatever should have the control and monopoly of the highways. I remember reading twelve years ago in "Harper's," an article on electric tramways, in which the author stated that it is the best policy of all that munic'pal bodies should own and control its tramways. Why should not the Devonport, Takapuna, Northcote and Birkenhead bodies, through their several representative men, unite and inaugurate a tram service that in the near future will bring a handsome return? If an outside company can borrow money for such an object, why would it not pay the various bodies I have named to do the same thing? Further, it must appeal to the ratepayers themselves, since the profit from the trams would go to a reduction in the rates. In New Zealand already municipal tram services have been constructed, and are being successfully and profitably worked. With the present service running in the city as an object lesson, it must surely be appirent to -11 right-minded men that a worse than a grave blunder will be committed if a private company secure?! the option for the Devonport trams.—l am. etc., DEVONPORT.'