THE LONG-SUFFERING PUBLIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 6

THE LONG-SUFFERING PUBLIC

Sir,—When are the public going to' rise up in a body to demand their rights and privileges? Here we have the tramway men demanding only what is just, right, and honourable, so as to enable' them to keep in touch with their homes and families. Surely the council are not going to adopt the accursed cry, and say, '"but you are not doing your work in a satisfactory manner. This is too often the rotten statement that men are met with when they are conscientiously doing their work, and only asking for their dues. According to the Mayor's statement (as appeared in the dailies on September 4), the gross'profits of the tramways amounted to £62,378. Does not the concern belong to the public (ratepayers, etc.) ? And Burely they would bo perfectly satisfied with, say, 2J- or 5 per cent, as profits. Give the public the power to vote, and I feel sure they would say give the men their living wage, and let the public travel in oommon decency, instead of having to wait from thirty to 'forty-five minutes for a car, and then huddled in like sheep in a crush. The go-slow policy is bad enough, but better that than that the men should go out altogether, and let the public walk. Whilst wo give the men their wages, we do not desire that the public should again be imposed upon by having the sections shortened, or fares increased in the faoe of such a profit as stated. If the oost i of living did not rise so rapidly. whiqfa too often is an agreement for a 'monthly rise, well, one would not mind go much. For oxample, flour and wheat were arriving from overseas at cheaper .rates than grown locally, and yet the very staff of life was put up. Take another exr ample, house rents, and you 'find the landlord doing work which is only maintenance, and he comes along to advise you that the rent-will he increased. And you sit at n dinner-table and listen to them discussing the tenants as "queer cattle." If tenants are to be classified as cattle, can someone suggest what classification to put the landlords in, for I have failed to find for them P—l am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO.