THE TRAM REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1183, 19 July 1911, Page 8

THE TRAM REGULATIONS.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL. The keynote of the Government's intentions towards municipal tramways was sounded very, clearly when the Tramways Act of last session was in the hands of the special committee set up to deal with it. The following extracts are taken from page. 103 of the official report covering the proceedings of that committee:— Questioning a Christchurch motorman, Mr. O'Shea asked: "Are you aware that the Ministers of (lie Crown in New Zealand have expressed nu opinion that the tramways ought to be in the hands of the Government*" Tho witness: "Not to my knowledge." Mr. O'Shea: "Has it ever occurred to you that this Bill might, be used as a lever to force tho local bodies to part with the tramways?" Witness: "No." Subsequently the Minister for Public Works (Hon. R. M ICotizio) took occasion to remark to the same witness: "Mr. O'Shea has lold the committee that some of the Ministers had put on record their opinion that the tramways of New Zealand ought lo belong to the public. Supposing the tramways did lwlong to the public, do you not think tlie public would be better served than they are now?" Witness: "I do not know about that." The Minister: "Do you not think they could be run much cheaper, that the fares could be reduced, and that the men would get better wages than they are gettiii" now." ' " The witness: "They might."