THE TRAMWAYS BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 6

THE TRAMWAYS BILL.

It will be a matter for surprise should the Government persist with the Tramways Act Amendment Bill in the face of 'the hostility which its provisions have excited . in the four cities which possess electric tramway systems. We set out in an earlier article the. objections-to the proposed widening of State Departmental interference with the rights of municipalities, and there is no occasion to repeat the considerations we then put forward, beyond reiterating that the Bill is obnoxious, not only through the immediate inconveniences which it will create, but, also, and in greater measure, on. account of the possibilities of which it is the beginning. Not enough attention was given to this second point by the City Council when the Bill was under discussion on Monday night. Under existing conditions tho management of the Wellington tramways ifi in the hands of competent officials selected for their special and expert acquaintance with electric traction, but tho Bill proposes, by shearing away the autonomy of the Corporation, and deleting the responsibility of the Corporation's officials, to substitute in place of this expert control a control that at best can only be amateur, and that is likely to be as harassing and injurious as inelasticity and want of sympathy can make it. It requires no argument to make clear the disadvantages to Wellington that will proceed from taking tho management of the tramways out of the hands of highly-paid exports, who arc responsible to the city, and handing it over to Departmental officials who have

no practical acquaintance with electric traction, and who are responsible only to a Minister. The amount of sympathetic interest which Wellington might expect from the Government is measurable by the obstacles raised by the Government Department at various times during the construction of the tramways. One of the members of the local City Council dissented from the general condemnation of the Bill on the ground that there was nothing to show what conditions the Government might impose on the tramways systems. Theoretically, that view is sound, but there is no doubt whatever concerning the drastic character and limitless scope of the conditions which the Bill authorises the. Government to impose if it should be so minded. ■ It. is no more' than a step from State, control of one municipal enterprise to State control of another, and ultimately the disappearance, of real municipal control altogether. This would not be a subject for immediate alarm were it not that the Government has convinced itself of the benefits of State Socialism and the propriety of 'extending State Socialism as far as possible. Even Councillor 11'Laren, who' cannot be accused of lagging behind in the promulgation of Socialistic ideas, revolts from the " centralisation of Government authority," whiclr'is the governing principle of the Bill. That is because the inconveniences of " paternalism " are in this instance obvious to everyone. It is satisfactory to know that the cities are taking a firm stand on safe ground against a gratuitous and vicious' invasion of their rights.'.' .