MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 2

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Popoffski ” says I fail to note the difference. He may use a noni de ■plume, but because I criticise Labour I may not. Let me inform “ Popoffski ” that I have been fully cognisant of the difference, lie is pro-Labour and I am anti-Labour, therefore 1 am Nazi, Fascist, Conservative, or, indeed, anything anathema to his noble cause. As _ ij child 1 found sago, tapioca, or rice quite wholesome food, and though the fare did not fatten me, we—and there were several boys of us—certainly developed none of the pot-guttedness of a Bantu or even a Fanti baby. But then our mother was Scotch and a good cook. “ Popoffski ” asks me why sychopants and not supporters P Merely because I think the former word is a more correct description of those to whom I referred. “ Popoffski,” I note, does not deny my statement that patriotism is not a trait in. the character of the Labour Party. Burns, despite all “ Popoffski ” says of him, had all the independence of the true-born Scot, but, of course, Labour’s ultimate aim is that no man should be independent, but all dependent upon the State. Perhaps if “ Popoffski ” had worked as hard as I have, and been as content with as little, there would have been no need for him to beg of me “ a bit ” of God’s own country. So much for all that, but how entertainingly “ Popoffski ” sidesteps the question of Labour’s maladministration of civic affairs. Had he been with me at 5.15 p.m. to-day when I went to purchase a concession tram ticket he would have had to wait in a queue 15 deep. At the second hole in the dogbox there was a queue of IG, and when I at last got my ticket there were 19 behind me. Years ago one could purchase a concession ticket from the tram conductor. Of course, I suppose that’s smart business on the part of the Labour Council, for the fewer concession tickets sold the more cash fares are taken, and twopences for the first sections. Of course, tramways receipts will show an increase. But has the Labour Council forgotten that the worker pays? If the Labour councillors were men of commercial experience they would know that increased fares do not augment tramways revenue. The Scotsman again can teach us a lesson in that matter, for it is a recognised fact that the most successful tramways in the world are the Glasgow trams, and there the section fare was one half-penny. I will ask “ Popoffski ” a question to put to his friend Cr Silverstone: How much is it costing the city to impose the 10s hose tap tax? I mean the total cost of this impost. Inspectors, I am informed, are still on the job with inspections and reinspections. What is the cost? But if the only objective is the ousting of Labour, well, of course it will naturally be a worth-while expenditure.—l am, etc., Time fou a Change. February 12. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —At the present time it is not my intention to enter into a controversy regarding municipal affairs, nor do I believe in taking any notice of people who snipe at our public men from the ambush of a nom de plume, but “Wake Up’s” letter contains so many inaccuracies that it warrants an official denial. In .‘ the meantime we- can leave' the burial of the guns, tiny reading programme, Mr Harrison’s appointment, etc., to the hustings. Our candidates will face the electors and answer for

their deeds. What Ido take' exception to is the statement that “ His Worship the Mayor notified the 0.L.8.C. that, if his nomination was not accepted as mayor, he would not stand as a councillor.” This is absolutely contrary to fact.

May I remind “ Wake Up,” and, for that matter, any other person whose union is affiliated to the Labour Party •—and this applies to branch members—that our selection ballot takes place at the Trades Kali on Wednesday, February 16; the hours 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Every person entitled to vote will have the opportunity of saying who shall be Labour’s nominees on the various local bodies. “ Wake Up ” will get a shock when ho receives his ballot paper. Ido not intend to disclose the names of the people in the ballot; suffice it to say that we shall come before the electors with a full ticket for all local bodies—a ticket composed of men and women selected by the rank and file, pledged to a policy formulated by the rank and file, not by the trade union secretaries, as some people insinuate.—l am, etc., W. L. Rutti.edge, President, 0.L.8.C. February 12.