COUNCILLOR SINCLAIR’S TRIP

Evening Star, Issue 15538, 7 July 1914, Page 7

COUNCILLOR SINCLAIR’S TRIP

TRAMWAYS AND LIBRARIES. Cv J. S. Sinclair, who recently spent some weeks on the other side, made inquiries into such matters as tramways and libraries, two departments in\he City Corporation in which he is specially interested. In the course of a chat with a member of our stuff this morning, Cr Sinclair said :

During the course of my visit to Australia I spent some time in Sydney, and naturally raid some little attention to local affairs. The Sydney tram service is, of course, under Government control, and in my opinion reflects the greatest possible credit on the department in charge of the same. I cannot say exactly how many trams arc used, but should imagine in th© j vicinity of 1,60t) The service is run with- j out a hitch, and to the general satisfaction | of the public. What impressed me par- I ticularly was the extreme courtesy of the conductors, the condition and adequacy of j the rolling stock, the absence of red tape regulations, such as the limiting of cer- j tain passengers sitting at the front or I back of tho cars, etc., the almost com- j pleto absence, even at busy times, of over- j crowding. Attached to the majority of I the cars is a trailer can. which usually accommodates comfortably everyone desiring to travel therein. The cars are run expeditiously, and although stoppages are made at almost every street corner, very little delay takes place at such stoppages. I am convinced that the only way to prevent excessive overcrowding is to utilise bogey cars a* much ns possible, and trust that' our Tramway Committee will take tlie earliest opportunity of ascertaining the Government's requirements locally in respect to curves, etc. Quite recently it was found that the tram fares were too low and that more revenue would be required, and the Government over there, without hesitation, realised their duty and shouldered it boldly by raising the fares. Of course, there was the usual mild outcry, but the Government were not perturbed in tho matter. It is estimated that the raising of the fares will ensure a fairly substantial surplus at the end of the working year. I sea Mr Alexander has gone North to gain some insight into the working of the different systems up North, and also to see exactly the style of alterations required under the latest Government regu lations. I am perfectly certain fhat if our manager extended his visit to Australia ho would also glean much valuable tramway information. Naturally I paid some little attention to the libraries in Sydney. 'llia State control the Reference Library, in which is housed an enormous stock of books. To give some idea of tho work required in the control and management of such a department, the chief librarian informed mo his staff numbered approximately 40. It is not customary in Australia to employ females to assist in library work, a fact | which rather astonished me, as our expori- 1

■auce locally has been that females; are more suitable in many ways to men. The mimioipality controls tho Free Lending LihrarV. Frankly, however, I was'not impressed with the situation of this library, and am surprised that the controlling body have not erected a special building for the Municipal Libvaiy. The premises comprise portion of the top flat of an arcade, and the interior did not impress me very much. In Wellington a system is in vogue with the object of encouraging reading by school children, which I think might well fae tried by our local authorities in some of the large schools in our City. A stock of hooks is supplied by the Library Department to tho 3rd, dtih,—sth, and 6th Standards of certain of th© public schools. The responsibility for tho safe custody of such books is vested in tho respective school authorities, and from information I re oeived everything seems to work satisfactorily and smoothly. Of corn's© w© have a children's branch of the. library here, but the Wellington Library also has such a branch. Last year it cost the department tho modest sum of £l5O to so stock the six largest schools in Wellington. .Of course, we have all heard of the beauty of the Sydney Gardens and Sydney Reserves, but frankly I consider the beauty or our local reserves generally surpasses anything in that line I have evoi seen, and in that direction a deal of credit must be given to our local superintendent, Mr Tannock.

I spent some little time visiting the back country in New South Wales, particularly in tho northern portion, and was surprised at the richness of the soil and the general prosperity of the country. Among other industries the fruit-growing seems to be largely indulged iu. Unfortunately, however, during the last two or three years growers have been much liarrassed by the different fruit blights. The serious post to- farmers in New South Wales at present is the alarming numerical growth of the rabbit. Sufficient labor cannot bo obtained to keep down the pest, although good wages, averaging at least ICs a. day the whole year ruond, could be obtained. One squatter informed mo that the rabbits on his place have increased so much that the carrying capacity of tho land during tho last four years lias been reduced by 16,CC0 sheep. One sees very picturesque towns -and places it, Australia, but taking everything ■into consideration our own little town takes a lot of beating for beauty and general trade solidarity.