AUCKLAND ELECTRIC TRAMS VERSUS R. R. HUNT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 3

AUCKLAND ELECTRIC TRAMS VERSUS R. R. HUNT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, Mr. R. R. Hunt, in the role of public bonofactor, if a spectacle for the gods. When a man, who, for a lengthened period, steadily and persistently advocates the claims of foreign monopolies, suddonly executes a " right-about-face" movement, it is only natural that his fellow citizens should seek to ascertain the "motif" inducing such a change of front. Mr. Hunt would fain have us believe that his sudden conversion was duo to tho "grebd of the capitalist." The deeiro of the fat man in London to " bleed" tho simple citizens of Auckland forced Mr. R. R. Hunt into rebellion against their unholy actions, hence his present position as champion of tho people. 'Tis a sweet and simple little tale, but one is strongly reminded of tho fable of the fox and the grapes, or of that other interesting little story of Hie fox and the crow. There must bo a nice pioco of cheese somewhere that Mr. Hunt's soul hankers after. I wonder where it is ? Perhaps it would como in the shape of a handsome bonus and a seat on the Local Board of the Trust Company, who would, should Mr. Hunt carry his plan, control the Auckland trams. Of one thing lam fully satisfied—all this talk about disinterestedness and a yearning desire to save tho citizens of Auckland from the greed of the capitalist, is shew unadulterated humbug. There is an axe to grind and money to find, and tho trail of the " boodle" is over them all. The question for the citiaens of Auckland to determine is whether the Oity Councillors acted within their legal rights in granting the concessions to the English company, and, if this question is answered in tho affirmative, the only other question that remains is, " Can the councillors, as honourable men, repudiate th# engagement into which they have entered ?" The answer is clear to every right-thinking clean-souled man and woman, Mr. R. R. Hunt's melodramatic performances notwithstanding.— am, etc., Anti-Humbug.