BLOW AT CIVIC GOVERNMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 977, 18 November 1910, Page 4

BLOW AT CIVIC GOVERNMENT.

NOT TO BE TAKEN QUIETLY, Tho Tramways Amendment Bill came-.. into brief prominence at the meeting of the City Council last evening, and but for the opposition of one or two deter- : mined sm'rits, tho meeting would prob. ably havo embarked on an extended discussion o£ the pros and cons' of the, measure. ■ • • '■ > • . . After some remarks by Councillor Fitzgerald, who was anxious that the coun- ■ ' cil should immediately take some deter* ' mined step, the Mayor said that, without doubt, a very strong protest would be made against the provisions o£ the Bill when it came beforo tho House. The effect of the measure if it passed would bo to kill the superintendence and ad-'■;■ ministration of the municipal tramway . system. The speaker understood that the council desired him to protest against' the Bill, and he would discharge the olx ■ ligation. . Councillor M'Laren said ho. desired to. make his position clear. Thore were clauses in the Bill which ho approved; for instance, those relating to the exam- .' ination of motormen, the establishment of Appeal Boards, and the provision for' report books. Councillor Fitzgerald sought the indulgence of the council,.asking that he be,allowed to move, without notice, "Mime municipal councils should bo exempt from the provisions o£ the Tramways Amendment Bill." Councillor Trevor raised a voico in dissent, and Councillor Fitzgerald was no(j- ■■-.■ allowed to move his motion. Councillor Fletcher was more fortunate. A little later, he was permitted to propose a motion of protest, which was carried, without dissent. It ran: "That the City Council wait upon the Minister in charge of the Tramways Bill, as 8 deputation, to enter a vigorous protest against many clauses contained in that measure. ■ Councillor Fitzgerald, had the last ! -word. "I think the Bill. would - wrect local government" altogether," he do-', clared. '