THE CANAL AND MAYORAL ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 2

THE CANAL AND MAYORAL ELECTION.

TO TUB EDITOR OF "THE rREBS.'' __ Sir, —In reference to your sub-leaver in this morning's issue anent. letters of myself and Mr Joshua Little appearing in your columns of even date, please give mc e>pace to assure you and your readers that neither of us is in the least mistaken a.a to tho .state of public opinion in this town on the canal question.. Both yourself and the promoters of the Commission lay great stress on the report of that body. Hut the citizens, -who arc most interested in tho •progress of their city, are obliged to «?o that there is nothing whatever in that report to shake their confidence in tlio canal scheme. May I venture to su.v thero is no competent business man in this town who has any doubt whatever that, the progress of the town and province is dependent on ouv opening up a waterway to Iho sea in order to aid tiie development of our vast resources. 1* cannot understand how you come by the idea that the tide of nublic opinion lias been changed, or, in fact, at all influenced by thatrcport.- Tho public were simply flabbergasted bj* ; the audacity of the thing. Tho whole proceeding, from first to last, was so unaccountable—so uncalled for. Tho fact in itself of tho setting up of the Commission presumptively imnlied the existence of a doubt :n tbe public mind. There was no such doubt. All the public meetings promoteu by the League were unanimously in favour of the Canal, and it was only with a view to stem the tide of public opinion that tho instigators of the Commission stepped into the breach with their suggestion, and . then, forsooth, called upon the League to surrender. What a-sham! But let mo assnro you that this jubilation of triumph for vested interests is but fleeting. Before all things, the development of the vast natural resources • of the city and province must be considered, and the vested interests of tbe few, though for a time backed up by the Press and the Commission, must eventually, stand aside. Every reader of your paper will agree with Mr Little iv thinking that the measures proposed by our Mayor as a substitute for the Canal scheme are of the most futile character indeed, and, therefore, in thanking you in anticipation, let mc again express the hope that the Canal Lenc.ue -will even yet bring out somo candidate for the mayoralty worthy of the confidence of progressive citizens. — Yours; etc., . W. L. CHRYSTALL.

CATHEDRAL SQUARE. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." , Sir, —When reading suggestions to beautify the Square, one cannot but regret that the original plan of this city was interfered with by the sale, by the Church, to the borough, of what is now that portion of Colombo street in front of the Cathedral, and the feito of the Godley Statue. Could it not be restored, in a measure at least, to its original plan, by lifting the tram lines running north and south, and the closing of the street, except to foot traffic. Tlio- statue could then be removed to the centre of Colombo street, its present site used for shelters, etc., and the tram traffic diverted east and west from the Rank corner.—Yours, etc.

PISCATOR