HUTT VALLEY TRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 964, 3 November 1910, Page 7

HUTT VALLEY TRAMS.

RATEPAYERS' POLL. LOAN PROPOSAL REJECTED. Unwonted bustle reigned, both in Petone and in Lower Hutt yesterday, the exciting factor being a poll, taken in each borough, on the proposal to borrow the sum of £85,000 for tramway construction. Supporters and opponents of the proposal wcro busy all day in beating up support, and polling in tho two boroughs and at the city polling stations was heavy. In tho final result a considerable majority of votes was recorded,. by tho ratepayers of each borough, against the proposal. At Petono the completed returns for both sub-districts were announced shortly after eight o'clock. At Lower Hutt "tho result of tho poll wa's announced at ten minutes past eight. Following are details:— '' The Voting. MaInfor- jority For. Against, mal. against. Petone ... 378 443 11 65 Hutt • ...• 359 443 18 84 Totals... 737 BS6 .. 29 149 In the Hutt sub-district, which includes tho Hutt County and the Epuni Riding, the number of qualified voters ia 1824, and of these 832 exercised their votes. In Petone 820 of the 1400 eligible voters recorded their votes. Tho proposal at the tramway lebn poll, taken in June last, was carried in the Hutt sub-district by two .voiles, but lost in the Petone sub-district _by 64 votes. A. majority is necessary in both districts to give eilect to the proposal.

A Popular Result. At Lower Hutt some 50 people had assembled outside tho Town Hall when polling ceased at seven o'clock. By eight o'clock the number had.increased to about 300. Conversation among the various groups seemed almost universally 'to run counter to the proposal on tho score of a prospective increase in rates. The result or the poll when announced was received with cheers. In response to an insistently-voiced demand," Mr. E. P. Bunny, Mayor of Lower Hutt, addressed the assemblage from the balcony of tho Town Hall. The U.A'it congratulated ratepayers on the result of the poll. It had been arrived at, he believed, after very careful consideration of the proposal The large majority of votes cast against it, both in Petone and in Lower Hutt, signified, he took it, that before any proposal of tho kind could be accepted, it would have to be very greatly modified.

A voice: Motor 'buses! The tramway proposal as advanced, Mr. Bunny continued ,'■ was too far ahead of the times, and not at all suited to the needs of the district. The thanks of ratepayers were . due to Messrs. Reade and Hayward for the pains they had taken in arousing opposition to the tramway scheme as brought down. In conclusion Mr. Bunny thanked his hearers for the keen interest they had taken in the poll and in prior meetings.

"An Unreasonable Desire." Mr. J. W. Reade also briefly addressed the assembled ratepayers, and congratulated them upon the, rejection of the loan proposal. The attitude of some who had championed the tramway proposal, Mr. Reade compared to that of Cetawayo, the Zulu king. When Cetawayo was exiled, only two of his fourteen wives were permitted to accompany him. At this, according to Mr. Reade, the Zulu king felt aggrieved, and said, "If.you won't give me tho others, at,least let me,change the j,wo I have got.".; A number of people.at' the Hutt were, just as unreasonably, desirous of change. By some peoplo, the tramway scheme had been supported on tho ground that it would be of service to women and /-hildren, but this was not the way to look at so important a question. The poll taken that day was an-answer to-those who had said that at the previous pool Lower Hutt had approvod the tramway scheme. o had always maintained that on that occasion the voting papers were' not understood. Concluding, Mr, Reado called for a rote of thanks foi Mr. Bunny for the aotion he had taken in opposition to the tramway proposal. Those who approved he invited to say "Aye." In response came a hearty volume of "ayes" and cheers. The gathering soon afterwards quietly dispersed. Polling commenced at Petone at 9 o'clock, but was very light until the afternoon, when tho booths were kept busy until the poll closed at 7 o'clock. Tho returning officers, Mr. Cooper, announced tho complete returns shortly after 8 o'clock. A large crowd gathered to hear the results, which were received with cheers. Speakers on both sides addressed the gathering. Mr. M'Ewari, chairman of the Tramway Board, stated that the board might possibly submit a reduced scheme, 'but would not give further consideration'to any motor 'bus scheme, which they had oome to the conclusion would be quite unsuitable. .