COAL SUPPLY TO THE TRAMWAYS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3091, 23 May 1917, Page 6

COAL SUPPLY TO THE TRAMWAYS

Sir,—Now that we have got over ther coal panic, wo ask ourselves the reason, and upon reflection we wonder why the scare was ever started. At first we weia told of the great coal shortage; then forward supplies were unlikely, and only, one shipment iu sight. We admit things then ( looked black, but what was the. true' position ? Plenty of coal in the harbour, and we get a. statement thab the Gas Company obtained 500 tons of it; then it is common talk that a colliei 1 then in this harbour was forced to take a large quantity of coal away again 1 , and could not get it unloaded. We find other institutions able to get good supplies, and still the council is short. When wo go outsido the citv, as-1 do, and make inquiries, I find places like Wanganni with ample supplies, and the Napier gasworks with months in hand. Therefore we ask ourselves two questions: Was the panic, started to save the tramways and allow tliem to reduce tho overloading at rush hours? We hear this morning from Councillor Shorland that the tramways are shockingly overloaded, and this statement has Been backed up by the Mayors remarks at odd times. Councillor Shorland. also states that tho condition is not caused bv a coal shortage, so we ask, why don't the City Council deal -wltsi the position in a businesslike way, and. not through a side issue? If this surmise be wrong, was- the panic caused by the Mayor trying to usurp the Minister ot Mines* position to tell -the people what should be done with the coal? The report of- the City Engineer is a., very wise and sensible report, and very valuable for the council's future guidance, but surely the first duty of the council is to get supplies, and we heard .yesterday/that they can get plenty-and leave the rest to the Government of the country. Surely when it comes down to the effect 6n private business, it then is the Government's turn to.make the move, and tho Mayor's reply to the .deputation regarding petrol did not come within the City Council's functions in any way. Coming down to bedrock, it is very evident the Tramway .Department, through lack of foresight, is very much overloaded, and during rush hours 15 in constant danger of a breakdown; so why don't they put their own house in order and leave the private concerns to be dealt with in a national way by the Government of New Zealand when the actual necessity arises? Let His "Worship the Mayor make a clean sweep and tell tno lieople the true position of the Tramway Department, a*id not hide it behind tho "coal,loak.»-lam,ctc lOTi _ rAj . ia