Tramway Board Election.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18229, 13 November 1924, Page 6

Tramway Board Election.

We remind those readers who are not already enrolled that to-day is their last chance of qualifying to vote for the new Tramway Board. The lists of 'ratepayers and residents close at 5 p.m., and since it is not desirable that so important a body should be chosen carelessly, it is to be hoped that citizens will not allow the other interests of the day to crowd ont this simple public duty. Those entitled to vote are ratepayers, and persons who, having been residents of Christchurch for three months and of the Dominion for twelve months,, own or rent property of an annual value of more than £lO. That is to say, there is hardly anyone who uses the trams who may not, if ho wishes, have a part also in the control of them; and there is hardly anyone who should not take a part. It may be taken for granted that one section of the community will be fully ourolled, and will make a determined effort to get as large a representation on the new Board as the apathy of the other section permits. This, from tiie point of view of that section, is quite right. But from the point of view of the whole community it is obviously not desirable that the Tramway Board should be a class-' conscious body, or that it should represent that section especially which, knows least about the conduct of busi-' ness on so largo a scale. It is a fact I also that tho competition of buses is making tramway policy more and more bewildering— if wo are not indeed approaching the day when it will have to be recast altogether. Since the Board that will be elected in a fortnight may very easily find* itself faced with the biggest question any Board has had to deal with since the main lines of the present system were laid down, it is more than ordinarily desir able that the poll should be a full oua , ,