"THE LONE HAND."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 46, 31 March 1914, Page 3

"THE LONE HAND."

PLAYED BY CR. HUNTER.

NO TRUMPS. STANMORE ROAD TRAM. Even the Labour members, of the City Council deserted Cr Hiram Hunter last night when he proposed, to ask the Tramway Boardr to pull the Stanmore Road line up by the roots and transfer it to Fitzgerald Avenue. For once at the council meeting Cr Hunter played a lone hand. The slaughtered motion read: "That the Tramway Board be respectfully requested to consider the advisability of removing the tramline from Stanmore Road between Worcester Street and North Avon Road, and re-laying it along Fitzgerald Avenue from Worcester Street to North Avon Road."

Cr Hunter enlarged on the cry for the widening of Stanmore Road, which, he said, had been turned down enthusiastically by the ratepayers. As the trams made the dangerous element, it would be a good thing to shift them to Fitzgerald Avenue, where, in time, there could be a double track. He added somewhat vaguely that the board was considering the electrification of the line.

After a long silence Cr Millar seconded pro forma. There was something wrong with Stanmore Road, but he would not support Cr Hunter's proposal. Cr Cooper abstractedly remarked that the Stanmore Road line <was electrified already. The subject was not debated. On the question being put, Cr Hunter said "Aye!'- in a loud voice, and other councillors said "No" in still small voices.

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

This brought Cr Sorensen to his feet, with -a vehement demand for a division.

Cr Otley chaffed Cr M'Combs that if he supported Cr Hunter it would be no good coming out for Avon at the next election.

Cr M'Combs smilingly averred that his voice had not harmonised with Cr Hunter's.

"How do the Ayes have it?" asked Cr Sorensen of the Mayor. "Well, the Ayes made the most noise," said his Worship. *'l want a division," said Cr Sorensen.

There was a division accordingly, and it was found that Cr Hunter was the only "Aye" in the Council. "Why did you call for a division?" Cr Sorensen was asked.

"Well, I thought no man with any brains would vote for such a motion,'' was the response.

Cr Hunter rejoined that he was right and that the other members of the council would realise it before they were many years older. .