Novel System Of Testing Sincerity Of Transport Voters

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1948, Page 4

Novel System Of Testing Sincerity Of Transport Voters

That the sincerity of those who voted at the recent municipal elections in favour of private enterprise taking over the city transport services should be tested by inviting them to subscribe the capital to form a public company has been advanced by Mr. S. J. Sullivan, president of the Wanganui Employers’ Association. “There are 6635 people who voted in favour of private enterprise, and I would suggest that each should subscribe £lO as an initial sum to get the company going and then also undertake to mAke good any deficit, states M?. Sullivan in a letter to the “Chronieie.” “This would give us a capital of £66,350 to purchase suitable buses and to pay management, staff, repairs and maintenance. It seems the height of foolishness that those who voted for orivate enterprise should record their votes without ar, equal degree of sincerity. •Out of a population of 27.000 who are more or less affected by the public transport system of Wanganui, it is very questionable whether a real majority exists who would favour private enterprise with its many pitfalls,” states Mr. Sullivan. “Had every eligiole person been compelled to vote with an enlightened background on both issues, the possibu is that they would have voted strongly for municipal control.” He considers that a private transport system could not function without being heavily subsidised out of rates. It was not, he states, the policy of pri* vate enterprise which was at fault but the lack of opportunity and customers to meet the incurred expenses Unless the revenue was greater than than the total expenses, there was no possibility of success.