The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1918.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4875, 22 May 1918, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1918.

The ratepayers will be interested to learn that Mr Lysnar has disappoint e d his critics by coming up to the mark with a definite offer in writing to complete the tramways system under the conditions which he outlined in the course of his recent proposals. We do not, of course, profess to know whether the “Citj' Fathers” could make a contract, or be a party to an agreement, of the kind under consideration. That is a matter which is best known to the legal fraternity. It is very probable also that if there is no legal bar to relationships such as are proposed by Mr. Lysnar the draftagreement which he submitted to the Council last evening might require alterations and additions. But that is a further matter that the ratepayers need not, at this stage, concern themselves about. What is most interesting is that Mr. Lysnar is prepared to stick to liis promise which involves an offer that must

The “City Fathers’’ and Mr. Lysnar.

surely be unique in the annals ef local government within this Dominion. If Mr. Lysnar were the inventor of a tramways system there would be nothing out of the usual about his offer. But Mr. Lysnar. comes forward with his proposal solely with the object of making the town more progressive. Nobody can honestly suggest that Mr. Lysnar stands a ghost of a chance of making money in connection with his proposal. On the other hand he could reckon himself a lucky man if he did not find himself out of pocket at the end of the .term of his suggested agreement. What Mr. Lysner’s critics at the Council table now infer is that his offer is a gigaiitic bluff. They say—but on what authority is not disclosed—that the Public Works Department will never permit trams to be used- on the present Kaiti bridge' or the present bridge at Peel Street. Inferentially this is tantamount to declaring that Mr. Lysnar is well aware that that is • the real position. It will be observed

that the “City Fathers,” by the , smallest possible margin, have agreed to hold a conference with Mr. Lysnar on the subject. • We are afraid, hov.- , ever, that it will prove a pure waste » of time. So much at all events >-e t j. gather from the'Mayor’s attitu e. y Asked if he"would agree to a proposal to put the bridges right Mr. Sliei- , ratt, answered -in the negative. AV hat, j - then, is the use«of a conference m- * T \ tween Mr. Lysnar and the Council t , V It seems to us that a majority of j the opposition on the part -of the . “City Fathers” to Mr. Lysnar’s proposals arises from a feeling that his (, “interference”—for his offer is appa- e reiitly viewed in that light—is no« desired. There may also he a feeling fi , that, even if the bridge difficulty t were out of the way, Mr. Lysnar . t could not. possibly fulfil his offer to . complete the system for the money j available within the time which HO , specifies. It may be the case that , ~ under the agreement as drafted by . rj Mr. Lysnar the contract might not r prove enforceable on account of ait- , t Acuities which Mr. Lysnar might sub- | scquently claim had been beyond his , , control. All that we would like to ( say on this point is that if the ‘ Cl 3 . * Fathers” could accept Mr. Lysnar s * offer—with full safeguards so far as j the borough is concerned— they willmiss a great opportunity if they atlow it to pass. It is a bold ofier not one man in 100,000 would be . “game” enough to make such an oifer—and the critics of Mr. Lysnar have yet to show that he is not m earnest. The entry of Mr. Lysnar into the tramways “battle” can only result in good, for we fail to see what excuse the “City Fathers can now put forward against the sug gestion that the present very inadequate system should be considerably extended. Mr. Lysnar, it seems, aims chiefly at provision being made for a more adequate system: if the “City Fathers” are afraid of what would he the result, lie is prepared personally to shoulder the financial } responsibility over what is usually j the most trying period in the- case of j a venture of the kind. If Mr. Ly-.- j nar’s offer ends merely in awakening | the Council to the necessity for add- j ing another important section to the ; present system lie will deserve the j thanks of the ratepayers. This jour- j nal does not for one moment suggest | that it would at once pay to extend j the tramways to the extent suggeste f , j by Mr. .Lysnar. It would, however, j point out that the latest extension j seems to have been a step that has 1 been a success both from the pomt . of view of finance and of convenience, j The public will await with very con-j siderable interest the outcome of the ’ negotiations which are in progress • between Mr. Lysnar and their repre- j sontatives at the Council table. i ! i I | S