CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE TRAMWAY SHELTER SHED

TO THE KDITOR OF "TUE PRESS. ' Sir.—Tho City Council having resc.i::dcd its resolution in favour of xiie removal of the Ucdley statue from its present position, it may be presumod that the question of the shelter-tihed a-ai its removal or otherwise will b? dealt with shortly. The ehoJter is absolutely useless to a. considerable mojority of the tram paasongens who st-art their journeys in tJie hquaro, and it Ls an 'ata rating death-trap to all the re.it. It might as wed be in the ccn-tro of Hagley i'ark, for all the use it its to passengers -to New Brighton, Riocarton. Lin-wocd, Woolstoii and Sumnor, wJiiist the pas-cr.gers—mostly women aml children —using the tram* thai pull up in front of it do so at tho riik of their lives. There arc two linos in front of the shed, and trams arrive and depart frequently at thy saune time by both. To reach thr outer one have to dod-sje the swiftly-arriving trams on the inptar line in a way that must be very trying to nervous people, a more dangerous arrangement- it would bo difficult to conceive, and if a tearful falliality should occur, it would be inexcusable, and t'he Council will not bo free from blame. Is tJio concentrated commonseiii>o a;nd ingenuity of the Mayor, councillors and officials equal to the discovery of a method of providing shalter-shed accommodation for a greater proportion of tram passengers than a.t present sir a smaller risk of lo.=t? of life? I am .not hopeful, but may I suggest that tliere are two places in the Squ-aire that would fulfil the conditions. About the ihastoricai! lamp-post there ie room far a shelter — ami ornamental one in preference—et which the trams by one of the Knee paeans in front of tho statue could stop and it would aocommodiaite passer. .•■> by those trams and passengers for Sumnor', Lirmvood end Woolston. There is nl§o a space nortih of the sbatue whioh might be utilised for a second shelter by which tho second line of trams could stop. By this axran-gement tiho God Hey statue and its grass plot would be left open to view and the damper to life et- present existing would be removed'; the "requirements of the living" wfhioh correspanden'ts ha>ve advocated would be attended to, while respect for the ■ honoured dead would not be violated.

The Mayor and Councillors need not to surprised if the ineptitude- displayed by them over this matter has accentuated the enquiry whether the time is iMvt d.rawi.ng near when, the City could' well do without that body and ali the expense they cost. On© by one the necessities of the city are being looked, after by other bodies, carried out by contract, or otherwise provided for, whiie the works remaining in the Council's hands are very unsatisfactorily performed. The drainage eysteon is in the hands of a Board. It was initiated by a Mayor who thought it best not to give it into the Council's hands. The lighting of the city is contracted for *by a private company. The citizens wouM: not think of thetramway initiation and management being in. the Counoil's bands. The recreation reserves in the cdty on the banks of the river were a disgrace to Christchuroh till the Beautifying Society took them in hand". The abatement of the dust nuisance- waa beyond the Council, and wo suffered dire iinconvenienco and heavy loss till tbo Tramway Company imported' its sprinklers. The Fire Brigade no longer needs tho attention of the Council; abler hamds have it in charge. The Mayor has confessed that the repair of the roadfe of the city is beyond the Council and the transference of this work to a contractor is mooted, and is hoped for by many. The monopoly-of the supply of electricity for lighting and power p-urposes is in the iha-nde of tie Council, and a moro inefficient service could hardly be imagined. The abattoirs, built by the Council at-great expense, are found very imperfect, and ms&iy wish that the compan.io3 who offered t-r- do the killing by contract had , been allowed to do it; indeed seme arrangement of working the abattoirs by contract may yet bo found necessary. The high-pressure water supply cannot bo judged yet. It may be a success or it may not. what will remain, to the Council to do in return' for what it costs? In this utiKtaTiaJii age wo may come to tihink that the issue of v few l'loenses, the care of a few dusfc carts, and onn or two similarly sma.!3 works, .hardly require the attention of a brdnzoned Mayor, a dcaeni CbuneiUors, and a small army of officials, norarean adequate return for tho money they cost. Tihe Mayor and Oaunaillore might thank on these anattere.—Yours etc., •'

CITIZEN