The Dominion. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1912. THE CITY TRAMWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1492, 15 July 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1912. THE CITY TRAMWAYS.

■ ;— oThe City Council will to-night give consideration to tho question of the best means of placing the municipal tramways on a sound financial footing, i The matter is one of such great importance that councillors will we trust approach it in no narrow spirit and will bo quite uninfluenced by sectional interests or any other concern than the practical needs of the situation. We make this observation because it is certain that whatever may be done in the direction of making the tramways pay their way will meet with resistance. Whether it is the putting down of tho costs of administration or the reduction in the length of sections or alterations in the time-table, some portion o.f tho community may be relied on to make protest and seek to bring pressure oh councillors to prevent thn needed change taking place. Already we , have had deputations waiting on the' Council urging that this or that of the suggested changes recommended by tho Tramways Board should not bs made and putting forward more or less valid reasons in support of their requests; but councillors, however anxious they may be tq: meet the wishes of these citizens, cannot ignore the financial position of the tramways and cannot honestly shirk their responsibilities and their duty as the guardians of the interests of the city as a whole. The situation is in some respects a serious one for the city. The Tramways Board—a Board of experts—after a full investigation of the working of this large municipal undertaking has unanimously arrived at the conclusion that material changes iir.t-he system are required in. order to place it on n sound and paying footing. Last year there was a loss on the working of tho tramways and this loss will be n recurring and possiblv an increasing one unless immediate . steps arc taken to check it. Any such loss on the tramways will have to ba made up from some other . jLojirca pi lufiome tot -fche.

corporation, and the diversion of the money -in this way from its proper use will necessarily cripple the Council and prevent the carrying out of ncaded works in other directions, ihe tramways should at least be self-supporting. The chief objection to the proposals of the Tramways Board, will no doubt be in confection with the proposed readjustment of the penny sections. It unfortunately happened when the sections were first laid out that the divisions were not made on an cquitaole basis. Some of the sections were of a reasonable length, while others were far too long for a penny ride; and although this must have been recognised for some time past, so long as there appeared any hope of the tramways being able to pay their way, no one cared to take the steps necessary to secure a fair and equitable rearrangement. Now that it has become imperatively necessary to act, it is just as well that it should b<; clearly understood that the changes proposed are of a quite reasonable nature,_ and leave little if any room for legitimate grounds of complaint The ld.ea is to make each section as nearly as possible a mile in length and surely no one can complain at being permitted to ride at a charge of a penny a mile? In course of time, with the improved conditions expected from the rearrangement now recommended and from other changes which the Board is understood! to have in view in the direction of reducing the cost of working the tramWiiys, it may he possible for the Council to'grant certain concessions in the way of ah increased number of rides to each purchaser of a shilling card. No doubt such a concession would bo greatly appreciated, and would probably'silence all but the most factious oppositon; but for the time being councillors must be careful to see that the success of the new scheme is not imperilled by whittling it away in a desire to avoid giving offence to sectional interests. In face of the finding of the experts the Council, if it does its duty, will not hesitate to seize the opportunity ■ now offered to place the tramways. finance on a sound basis. In any reasonable step it may take in that direction it can safely rely on tho support of the great bulk ,' of the public, and the sooner that step is taken tho better it will bo for the municipality. and for citizens generally. ; ■ .