THE Tramway Grab.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 921, 5 September 1896, Page 10

THE Tramway Grab.

RATEPAYERS BEWARE !

The Obsbbver once more appeals to public opinion to intervene and shut down on the shameless manoeuvre that ia on foot to filch from the people of Auckland a valuable tramway estate in the interests of a crafty company-promoting clique. These negotiations are not fair and square. This bnsiness of these further concessions 1B being transacted by back-door and.round-the-corner influence. And unless public opinion Bpeedily arousea itself to a sense of what is being attempted, the scheme will be successfully worked to the disadvantage of the city and the spoliation of the people to the extent of a considerable and valuable pnblic estate. We invite the attention of the ratepayers to the shameless and barefaced proceedings at the last meeting of the City Council the other evening. This tramway matter has hitherto been referred in each instance to the Legal Committee. But what happened at the Council meeting ? It was known that the feeling of the Legal Committee, which had given this tramway matter much earnest consideration, -was hostile to the extraordinary further concessions demanded by the Parrish people in London Whereupon a motion was made to refer this tramway matter to., a special committee, and this resolution was carried. Thereupon, a special committee was nominated, carefully excluding every member of the Legal Committee, and the Mayor was just about to put this to the meeting aIBC when an astounding thing happened. Mr R. K. Hunt, who is looking after the interests of this electric tramway syndicate in Mr Stewart's absence, advanced from his seat to the Mayor's chair, and held a whispered conversation with His Worship, after which the Mayor put the motion to the meeting, adding the words ' with power to act.' Immediately there was a storm of ' noeß,' and these final four words which would have given away our tramway estate for forty years without further question were abandoned. The audacity of the whole manoeuvre is startling Also, it is a straight tip to the ratepayers of the city, and, failing them, the people of Auckland,to be on their guard. This question of conveying away our tramways estate is a vast and momentous one. The interests of the people are vitally associated with it. Therefore, the attempt to score a victory by stealing this marcn on the council by questionable tactics was a reprehensible one. Moreover, it argues badly for Mr Holland's prospects of seeing Parliament as a representative of the people if he is assisting to promote this scheme by tactics of any kind. Possibly, however, he didn't see the drift of the dodge. The Obsbrvek doesn't like boodling, either in tramways or anything else, and it is anxious to see the interests of the people protected in this matter. But if we are to give this estate away, and fleece oarselves for the profit of other people, by all means let us do it in a stupid, honest, straight-forward way. Don't let us have the point worked by crafty dodges.