THE HONG-KONG CAR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 263, 30 July 1908, Page 3

THE HONG-KONG CAR.

Sir, —I am anxious to ',draiv your attention to tho treatment tho residents of Brooklyn receive at tho bands of tho City Tramways-De- ■ partment. Evor sinco tho-line has-been open to Brooklyn I have ridden, consistently twico a day (Sundays excepted) in allweathers, and havo very seldom, escaped having to rido in ono of those very uncomfortable typo of car styled Hong-Kongs. Now, sir, I have beard it moutionod that there arb people, residing in this suburb who are forbiddon bjy the doctors to ride' in them, 'and with a view to improving our condition I hiive a suggestion to malco which (1: overheard) a tramway official mado as tho best means 1 of getting rid of this class of car for all time. The suggestion is that all fittings of any use should be removed from theso cars and then take them to tho top of Brooklyn, put some obstacle on 'tho permanent-way near where the accident occurred to tako the car bfTthe rails, and let them go from the.top, Quite a sum of money 'could be obtained by charging the public, say, (3d., to view the smash, 1 and I would suggest that tho date for this event should be on'thoafternoon of Novombet.'fl, so as the children would bo provided wit!) material in the'evening to burn Guy Fawkes with. It would give mo great'pleasure to'assist to make the ! ,' BONFIRE. July 21. i j ■ V ■ [Mr. Stuart Richardson is away at present, but Mr.' Cable Engineer and Manager) state's" that the Mong-Xong havo long been recognisell as unsuitable all-lhe-year-round cars, owing to tho impossibility of .getting serviceable alntl workable blinds..'ihey were only used on the Brooklyn section during rush-hours, and that because they wero lignt, and thercforcjhandy for the stiff grades to bo worked. On being asked as to whether it was not possible to convert them into more comfortablo.cars, Mr. Cable said he did ; not think it was feasible.] - , .

A FINANCIAL CONUNDRUM. Sir, —I notice nil extraordinary mistake committed by Sir Joseph AYard in a speech which he made in the House on June 30, and reported'in Hansard (p.. 3/).; In defending the Government from the chargo of ' causing a shortage of money, ho' says: "Our banking institutions have increased their deposits'by £16,300,000 in thojlast iivo : years.",'' The inference is that tho''banks .are responsible'for the shortage of l'noiiey. Now, I Jind that in June, lDo3Hust live years ago—tho total of bank deposits- was! £17,746,609.' By .the returns for June, 1908, just published, they now;'hold £21,254,948, an increase, not of £16,3U0,000, but of £3,505,339.- Is it not a marvellous thing :that the of Finance" should be so ill-informed as to make suck a remarkable mistatement. What reliance can bo placed upon his statements if ho is capable of inaking such outrageous blunders 'i So far for tho statement —now. for the inference. It is true that bank deposits have increased by ihree and a half millions, hilt in the same 'fivo years_ I find that the bank advances lhavo increased from £13,210,350 to £21,411,400, a difference of £8,200,000. So 'that in tho fivo years the banks have actually lent out more than thoy have taken, in by, practically, £4,700,000. So how have they. caused shortage of money?.— I am, etc., .. ;I .■ July 24. PUZZLED.