TRAM CONTROVERSY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10310, 20 January 1927, Page 6

TRAM CONTROVERSY.

(To he Editor.) Sir —A perusal of your leading article of Friday, January 14th, upon the tramway question shows that your journal is emphatically m favor of immediate discontinuance oi the cars. This may I)e so, hut is that intention really expressed in the °P" plication which our Tramu ays. Coin mittee have for the consideration of the Government? You will doubtless remember that our Councillors have or intended to ask for permission to go outside the Tramways Act, ana make their own time when the system shall cease to operate, if the Government grant the application to discontinue. This being a fact, i cannot agree with your contention that Cr. DeCosta’s motion is untimely, or an attempt to flout the alleged will of the ratepayers. With reference to the presumption that the figures quoted, as a. credit to the stem do not cover repairs and maintenance over the period embracing the last nine months, it is very apparent to the close observer that the Council has not, and I will venture to sav “will not,” put in the stitch in time which would save nine. That is not a feature of the policy of the present majority of our Councillors. 1 cannot say whether Cr. DeCosta intended to positively obviate another poll or not, but I judge the merits of the motion upon the basis, of the poll recently taken being valid. Therefore considering the Council’s proposed request to nominate the date of discontinuance, I must consider the motion to delay scrapping, under the circumstances as shown, to be a sound and fair-minded proposition. One of mv main reasons for supporting Cr. DeC'osta is shared by many, who might, under different conditions, support the scrapping proposal. This reason is that the Council has not yet discussed any definite system to renlace the trams. We have several suggestions, made away from the Council table, but, of . course, those suggestions do not weigh with those who think. I would liken our Council to a general who advocated burning the bridges behind him, v hen advancing to an attack, with no thought of possible defeat. You will hoc tlio analogy when you realise that WC have iio official substitute t? replace the trams before the public. Cr DeCosta’s Suggestion would certai'nlv give the Council time to consider such a substitute in a proper municipal manner, and according to die ethics of local bodies elected to represent the “public,” not only ratepavers. At the next Council mcetimr the “City Fathers” will or°hablv be asked to consider Mr. Coham’s application to have his busses municipalised. Cr. Buniard has already shown that he does not wish die Council to exorcise their powers under the law, and immediately buy those busses for the Borough. Such a procedure would upset the tram Scrappers’ policy altogether because we should then have the nucleus of a positive alternative to the trains. T am, yours, etc.. “DUMMY MATE.