FULL TEXT OF THE MAYOR'S LETTER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12866, 26 July 1907, Page 10

FULL TEXT OF THE MAYOR'S LETTER.

'l~h<» i> t!in test of the kvter fliMrc.-srd by iiii.- M.ayor (Mr .Myers) to M; - ■(.'. G. Ti'.'.otmeier. chairman <".f directors oi thl> Auckland Klc'i'tnc Tramways Company, J ji> 1.. London :— You -will doubtless bo somewhat surprised to rec-ivo n omniiiiiintion frr.ni mo of n lumii'o v. hii-h you I.nd probably not expected, but it i> only oiter a very cnrt'iiil consideration t'l.it 1 take tho liberty , of addressing you upon the present u:is:ii M"::etory pc>ition of the Aiii'i.hi!:'! electric tramways, which I h:m- had to consider both from t!io point of view of my position as Mayor <A this city and also as a citizen not whoily unconnected with local enterprise. You must be aware, from the advices of your general manager, of the friction tliet lias nrir.en on various grounds between the company and the different local bodies through whose districts the tramwayit are laid, and flic doubtless :>.dvi r.od oi the flcutf) .stage which matters h.i.vo now reached. More serious causes ot tho dissatisfaction which Is at present so freely expressed are insufficiency of rolling stock to carry passenger traffic, th-i condition of siii h rolling stock, and tho apparent insufficiency of electric power to enable the service to be carried out without vexatious delay.;. There are, in addition, many other points in regard to which loc-il requirements are not met co readily as is desired, .nil helping to swell the prevailing dissatisfaction. Public feeling runs very high on these matters. I need not, however, enlarge on them, but n.ercly emphasise them in order to bring clearly before you the fact that a good deal of trouble might be obvieted •wore, the supreme management of tho company located in this city. It is flpparcnt t.hat where reference has to bo made from on© side of tho world to tho other, and replies awaited before the different questions of moro or less local urgency can bo decided, a considerable amount of annoyanco and irritation is thereby caused which could be avoided if such questions could, bo determined by a Board situated on tho spot. In the three other principal cities the tramways are owned by tho municipalities, and en impression prevails that they are managed with much moro regard to public convenience than in Auckland. To put the matter into proc.tical shape,.! would venture to ask for a reply to tho following question:—ls your company prepared to negotiate for the Bale of the v.Jiole of its intorests in the Auckland electric tramways to a local Tramways Board, wiio would obtain legislative authority to acquire and work the concern on behalf and for tho -benefit of the various local bodies interested, and. if so, upon what basis can the price to bo paid be assessed? I am, I think, correct in assuming that over 10 per cent, of your shares are at present held by tho public of Auckland, and tho British Electric Traction Company own the remainder. I trust you will see your way to send a representative to Auckland at the earliest possible moment, who will have full authority to dee I with, tho whole question.