HOW BUSINESS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HANDICAPPED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3588, 30 July 1912, Page 2

HOW BUSINESS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HANDICAPPED.

Sir,—Referring to “Ratepayer’s” letter in your valuable publication of the 25th inst. J. cannot help endorsing his remarks re the unneeded inconvenience caused through the laying of such an extensive portion of the tramlines in Gladstone road, Without providing crossings at reasonable distances. Take Grey street corner for instance, where there is perhaps more cross traffic than at any other up-town portion of Gladstone road. It is simply disgraceful the manner in which business people and the public generally have been handicapped through the urgent need of a crossing at this particular street, and to me it seems quite a miracle that no serious accidents have occurred here. Now that the tramline is fast approaching the bottom end of the business area it will be very interesting to notice how certain other business men who are in danger of being inconvenienced by the excavating and upheaval necessitated through the laying of the tramlines will faro In fact 1 cannot help thinking that influence has already been brought to bear by certain influential business men, and in consequence the Council have awakened to the fact that they have liashecl things up quite enough, and before proceeding further with the work they have come to the wise conclusion that they had better permanently complete that portion which they have already laid down, and thus alleviate _ the grievous injury and inconvenience which tho present state of affairs is causing a proportion of the business people- and public generally. Needless to sav I could dwell at great length upon this and many other works, but I do not desire to i encroach much further upon your valuable space. * There is iust one other matter which T would like to maintain, i.e., regarding the unequal distribution of the Council’s work. Not only does this applv to tho printing part, but the same’ can he said regarding other work that ought to be equally distributed amongst the respective trades and businesses. It would, no doubt, be very interesting if the public ot this town could see the books of the Council and thereby glean from the evidence* before them, whether or not-, the older and more established business people are getting the consideration which they deserve. As it is, it seems to mo that tho older business people who have battled anti stood the brunt of hard times in the past have not of late been receiving the consideration which they honestly deserve. And strangers, with practically no interests in the town, other than their businesses, undoubtedly are getting the lion’s share. This, I claim is not a legitimate way to consider established business people. Apologisin'! for encroaching so much on vour valuable space, and hoping some holer pen than mine will take this matter un.—I am, etc., A “BUSINESS MAN.”