Tramway Board Election.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 10

Tramway Board Election.

It can hardly be counted against the Labour Party that its tramway platform omits one or two planks that might have been added to give it everything that anybody might ask. It includes most of the good features of the Citizens' policy, and omits most of the bad ones that Labour in different circumstances would have added, which is not a bad performance as opportunism goes. It also includes an item or two which have not previously been included by any Party, and which have a good sound—the reorganisation of bus services " on a scientific basis," for example, and the reorganisation of the inspector service "for the purpose of "assisting employees." But it really would not have mattered much if Labour had shown less ingenuity, or none at all. The election will be decided, not by policies but by organisation, and it will be won by Labour if the rest of the community refuses to wake up. But so far as policies do count—and they begin to be serious after election day if not before—it is to be noted that Labour is silent about the one matter that really counts, viz., making the system pay. Penny fares are to be reinstated, concession tickets made more accessible, and made transferable, there are to be excursion fares " to all resorts," and inspectors moving about to help the motormen and conductors —and it may be that all this would mean greater efficiency, and therefore more buoyant finances. But the platform says nothing about finances except from the spending side. We are to suppose, if we like, that the trams under such a policy will pay, or pay better, but Labour does not say that this will be the case, and does not greatly care. Its general policy in such fields, as everybody knows, and as it does not now deny, is to put "the people" first and the ratepayers nowhere, however plain it may be to men of practical experience that if public concerns are not compelled to pay their way they will not often do so. But in spite of all this the fact remains that the problem of

the next three days is to arouse the careless. The community can secure a sound and safe Board if it takes the trouble to vote for one, and in no other way, since Labour will take the trouble to vote for the Board that the citizens in general do ?wt want.