IN PROTEST MIRAMAR PEOPLE AND TRAM SECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 8, 9 July 1912, Page 4

IN PROTEST MIRAMAR PEOPLE AND TRAM SECTIONS.

Residents of Miramar do not appreciate the recommendation of the Board of Management of the tramway system to reduce the size of the sections, and a meeting of protest was held at the Town Hall, Miramar, last evening, about twenty-five persons attending. The chairman (Mr. J. Brodie) went fully into the question, and called on the Mayor (Mr. H. N. M'Leod) to addreee the meeting. - Mr. M'Leod aa«J the people would be seriously affected by the increased transit charge, as it meant an .increase of 8s per week for the average family, which was a serious item. Their only chance was to protest at once, and the meeting Would be asked to support the Miramar Borough Council in ite representations to the City Council. He disclaimed any suggestion of criticism of the Board of Management, which wsa composed of eipertfi. Mr. A. S. Richards objected to -the board's proposal*, because it waa not intended to stop the leakage and reduce th* expenditure, but merely to get more from the people. This was too drastic &lto{j»ther, and had an injurious effect on tSose who lived lit the Buburhs. Mr. J. J. Clark, chairman of the Kilbirnie Ratepayers' Association, supported the argument* of the, previous epeakeve. The fe#r was that there Would bq empty hou»e9 in 6ome of the suburbs if the fares were raised. If people really knew the extent of the tramway free li*t tibey would, be astonished. In his opinion, workers' tickets should be abolished. He objected to the fares being raised until every other legitimate method of making ends meet hod been tried. Mr. Edwards was in favour of freft rides' for local residents on the cars, the revenue to come from the rates, visitors to be charged as at present. Mr. Richards moved — " That this meeting protests against the proposed increase in tram fares as quite unwarranted in the absence of any proposals for reducing expenditure, and urges the Borough Council to take such (jHteps as it may think fit to influence the City Council in its decision." This was carried.