DR LEMON AMD THE TRAMWAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 9185, 14 July 1893, Page 3

DR LEMON AMD THE TRAMWAYS.

TO THB BDITOB. Bik,«—l read with mingled amusement and indignation the account of the interview between our representatives and the Premier regarding the use of eleotrioity on our tramways. I was amused to see how far Mr Seddon had outgrown his boots, and indignant to think that Dr Lemon should have the power to lead the Ministry by the nose and interfere with important interests of the colonists out of mere whim. His opposition to the Wellington drainage scheme was absurd enough, so absurd that it can only cause temporary inconvenience, for the Wellington folks are bound to have their own way in the end ; but the opposition to the introduction of electricity as the motive power for our tramways is more serious, for it will probably lead to the scheme falling through. The question as I understand it is whether are the Government or the Corporation entitled to use the streets for the discharge of their electricity. If the proposed system of working the tramways be used the Government must go to some expense to provide for the return current from their telephones. Consequently Dr Lemon desires that the Tramways Company should be put to great additional outlay .in order that the present imperfect telephone system may be maintained. The streets are intended for traffic, and everything that facilitates traffic has a prior claim to everything else. The telephone is a great convenience to a limited number of people, whereas the tramways are a convenience to a large number. Thousands use the trams for every hundred who use the telephone, so that if it were a question of whether we should have telephones or tramways the former would have to give way; but no such question arises. It is only whether are thcGovemmentto be put to some expense cr the people of Dunedin to be de* prived of electrical tramways ? There can only be one answer. Dr Lemon may have been a good telegraphic electrician in his day, but lie is apparently lacking in common sense. Is it not time he was making room for a younger man ? Are the people of Dum edin tamely to allow themselves to be sat upon in this way ? I hope not, and trust that they may speedily prove effioient Lemon-squeezers.—l am, etc., Shouther to Shoithbr. Dunedin, July 14.