THE STRAP – HANGING DECISION.

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 47, 10 August 1907, Page 2

THE STRAP - HANGING DECISION.

The City Council Adopt the New By-Law.

THE action of the City Council in adopting a by-law to permit of a limited number of strap-hangers will doubtless receive endorsation at the bands of the thinking portion of the community. Apart from all other arguments, the high-handed action of the employees in forcing the alteration of the old system at a minute's notice, and the subsequent arrogant and dictatorial action which they adopted, alienated to a great extent, the sympathy of th,e public. It quickly became apparent that if the employees were granted an inch they would take an ell, and any considerations in their favour were hopelessly blighted by the manner in which they allocated to themselves the right to run the tramway service in any manner that happened to suit their convenience.

To a certain extent, the action of the employees has been productive of good. A marked improvement has been noticeable so far as the number of cars in commission is concerned. Had the men stopped at that, all might have been well. But they were apparently surfeited with the knowledge of their own power. Complaints have been rife that cars, half-empty, whirled past stopping places without waiting to take up would-be passengers. Undue severity was exercised by the men in more than one case when a mere word would have sufficed. And, taken collectively, the tramway employees certainly acted in such a manner as to convey to the public that the earth and the fulness thereof was created for the benefit and sole behoof of those individuals who held positions as motormen or conductors in the employment of the Auckland Tramway Company.

Under the circumstances, it is not to be wondered at that the action of the City Council in allowing a certain number of strap • hangers has been hailed with a considerable amount of approval. There is reason in everything, but the demands which have been made to the Tramway Cpmpany from various sources have not been reasonable. Undoubtedly, more cars are required, but these cannot be furnished at a minute's notice. As for the clap- trap which has been talked concerning the superiority of southern systems to our own, that can be proved to be a fallacy, so far as strap-hanging is. concerned. In every large centre there always has been, and always will be a rush at certain hours of the day, and it. would tax the resources of the best system in the world to cope with these rushes without putting a liberal interpretation on the by-laws.

But when all is said and done, it cannot be contended that the City Council has shown any firmness or decision in dealing with this matter. Una cpuncilloi especially has made himself conspicuous by his pronounced tendency towards vacillation. We refer to Councillor Smeeton. This

gentleman? was one of those who, when the Finance Committee first met to consider the matter, exprjessed himself in favour of recommending the Council to amend the by-law so as to allow a certain number of straphangers. But when the Council subsequently .met, he turned completely round and . voted against the recommendation which he himself had originally supported, and expressed himself asagainststrap-hanging. Then, at the last meeting of the Council, he again veered round and voted in favour of strap-hanging.

It would be interesting to learn the reason for Councillor Smeeton's constant change of front. Councillors Grey and Tudehope, two other members of the Finance Committee, also voted in the Council against the recommendation which they themselves helped to frame. Theydiffered,certainly,from Councillor Smeeton in that they were, to use a Hibernianism, consistent in their inconsistency, but that is small consolation. The Mayor also undoubtedly made a mistake in the disposal of his casting vote in the first instance, but this was probably due to a misapprehension on his part as to the dictates of precedents.

But the fact remains that the City Council has shown lamentable weakness in failing to grapple once and for all with a matter which, in the interests of the citizens, demanded instant attention. In view of the fact that many large public works of paramount importance, such as the Town Hall and the Grafton Bridge, are about to be put in hand, it is more necessary now than ever it was that our councillors should be men of firmness, decision, and sound business instincts. Our present councillors may possess a modicum of the latter quality, bub judging from their action in dealing with the tramway trouble, some of them are sadly deficient in both firmness and decision, and if any trouble should eventually arise in connection with these public works, it will certainly be necessary for councillors to exhibit more firmness than they have done in the present instance.