TRAMWAY CHANGES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 64, 12 September 1912, Page 2

TRAMWAY CHANGES

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — Seeing that you have received the testimonial of being "the most widelyread and influential paper in Wellington," I feel I must give your leading articles a little more attention. Previously I had regarded you as being only armed with pins, and the scratches inflicted thereby as only pin-pricks. While candidly . admitting that most of your leading articles are excellent, I must take strong exception to some of yoUr remarks published of late on tramway matters. Re your last night's leaderette, I may say that I had a pretty good view of the Mayor, and I have never seen him look more valiant and confident in his convictions that he was doing the right, just and honest thing than he did last night. I thought, however, that I saw him wincing a bit and looking as_ if he didn't like his job, and banging his twopenny-ha'penny mallet about rather nervously and recklessly three weeks ago when you saw the "valour in his eye and strength in his hands." He may have been valorous and strong then; but he looked as if he already realised that he was badly armed. Personally the only thing- I was afraid of was tha^ the bauble he banged about might slip; for I don't think he meant any harm. If he has been at fault let Us be generous and forgive him, for possibly he has been trying^ to digest badly cooked newspaper editorials, and forgetting to take the salt with them — a r very common mistake. As to "somersaulting,' 1 now that' he is the right side up let us encourage him to work with "valour in his eye and strengthen his hand" in seeing that justice is given, in the tramway concern to every citizen of Greater Wellington. His accusers are even more acrobatic than, he is, and I sincerely hope they won't hurt themselves in their gymnastics, for I predict a, great fall in Romans' soon. Re your parochialism remarks, I can afford t6 ignore them myself. Re "parish pumps" and their con tents, let me assure you that they and their contents are quite harmless and safe, even for newspaper editors, and might save somo people seeing Dr. Cameron living both in Wellington East and Newtown at -the- same time. That £436 increase on the first week's tramway takings probably wouldn't look so big if carefully, analysed after taking a few cool draughts from the parish pump or Grant-road fountain. As lam in Wellington East myself I hope you won't accuse me of parochialism when I advocate either a. parish pump or a fountain like the above-men-tioned being established at Newtown, for I maintain that while Wellington East is a little too "wet,'' that district is a little too "dry." Seeing that your paper could only see a few people in protest walking to John-street, perhaps if a parish pump was established, your informant could be induced to stay a little longer in that district. Personally I am in favour of a few overlapping < sections being cautiously introduced into the ticket system, especially from tho Post Office, £0 give the publio the fairest possible valuo for their money ; but that is more a matter on which wo should have the gujdance and advice of tho Tramway Board . of Management. Personally, I think a few well-preserved 'whales would do more to popularise and put our tramways on a sound financial basis than the present altered sections. Further, I now regard those opposed to a just arrangement of the sections being made, as being in the same position as "the grasshopper sitting on the railway track, singing polly-wolly-doodle all the day,' and sincerely hope that they will somersault off before they get a nasty bump. — I am, etc.* . ■ ■ - R. A. CAMERON. * 7th September, 1912.