THE MAYOR AND THE TRAMWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 169, 10 April 1908, Page 6

THE MAYOR AND THE TRAMWAYS.

■ " •' 7 . We publish elsewhere the tramway accounts for the past, year." They confirm our anticipation of' a fortnight ago, and, as predicted by us, prove the Mayor wrong in his estimate ;of the net. profit likely to be realised on the year's 'working. We should not have referred .to Mr. Hislop's errors of judgment in the matter had he hot resorted to the practice/ for which he is becoming noted, of attempting to escape from an awkward 'situation 1 by obscuring the issue. Mr. Hislop is one of that ( class of individuals who find it very difficult to admit an error. Instead of frankly conceding that he is not infallible, he prefers to trust to his ingenuitys to cover up his mistakes with a -mass of, irrelevancies, evading the rekl point in question. It must be confessed that his efforts have been crowned with some success, for the public does not, as a rule, analyse matters, especially where figures ore c'oucerned, very closely. Despite Mr. Hislop's clusiveness, however, he will find it a difficult matter to escape from his remarkable misjiidgment of the tramways profits, particularly in view of the close scrutiny which lie somewhat boastfully professes to have given to ■ this great munioipal undertaking. • On March 25, witli eleven months of

the financial year gone, we directed attention to his surprising miscalculation made in the month of October. With six months' returns in hand to guide him, the Mayor then forecasted a net profit of £15,000. He v;ns then attempting to show, what nobody ever disputed, that it would be unwise to lease the tranjways to a private in-, dividual. It is quite evident that this estimate was absurdly sanguine, and in discussing the tramways in March last we pointed this out.. Mr. Ilislop shuffled. He confessed 'that lie had been oversanguine but—there is usually a J but, when Mr. ( Hislop is wriggling out of an awkward position—an estimate prepared,at the same time by the Council officials was nearer.the mark. This latter estimate, which lie had previously discounted in favour of his own, he then unblushingly adopted as " my official estimate." .. But Mr. Hislop was not content to let the matter rest there. It was necessary to further confuse the position, and what better way than by making a fresh estimate, and forgetting the old one. Here is what he said:—• "My estimate of the year's profits was £22,700, and, according to the returns ■ last placed before the Trariiways Committee, /£16,500 had beeny cleared up to tho end of February, and was available for depreciation fund and absolute.profits. To this has to.be added a sum of over £1000 paid otit of this' year's profits, to'.compensate, sufferers' by the Brooklyn tram, accident. The profits for the thirty-one' days of March ought to be, £4500, "makingin all £22,000, which—considering the limited experience which we ; have had of. tramways—may be taken to be a fairly close estimate. The estimate that . was over-Sanguine, was amended by me' after September last; from that,, time my estimate has always been from £7500 to £8000 net profit, and this will bo quite realised." ' This, statement was-,made by.the. Mayor on. March 26 last-—five days bcfoi'e tlie close of the financial year, and' at least eleven months' returns before Mm. With only five days,to go Mr.Hi?lop published' his modified estimate of a net profit of £7500 to £8000, and added—'.' this will bo quite realised." What do tlie returns published this morning. sho\£;? ; : 'A net profit of £5508. We estimated is(joo. Mr. Hislop 1 was £1932, out in his calculation made only five', days before the close of the'year. Naturally lie -must' Shuffle again: ' He says 'there was exceptional expenditure during the yeai;. . What has that to do with his estimate made five days before, the close: of the year ? He knew of-the exceptional, expenditure then—there has lieeu<no'nc since. But it is liopeless to expect to make Mr., Hislop .pdmit that he is wrong.', The'figures we have given, .however, are interesting as disr closing his evasive methods, and 'more particularly, as throwing a valuable sidelight on his boasted close acquaintance with the management of the City's affairs. . ! '.--'a ; -, : f .