REPLY TO MR. BISS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 95, 24 April 1911, Page 2

REPLY TO MR. BISS.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — In your issue of 12th inst., Mr. A. S. Biss wishes to know how I would reduce tram fares and jnorease wages of tramways employees without creating n 'defioienoy in the finances of the City Council. Mr. Bise may be an astute and clever accountant, and perhaps there are some things he can do, and others ho don't want to. One of the ways 1 would accomplish those two things is with a periodical revaluation clause in all oity leases. Within a short period several of the city leases will expire, and it is authoritatively estimated that the enhanced value will increase the revenue of the City Council to tho tune of £30,000 per annum. Had a clause of this nature been inserted, tho citizens would have derived the benefit of the enhanced value during the whole period of the leases about to expire. Another way towards these two ends, and, I may add, towards reducing rates also, would bs by saying to the oitizons the profits now going to tho middleman under the contract system of carrying out publio works by oarrying out these works by Way labour, aB is done by the London County Council and other progressive local authorities. Another way 4 would be the establishment of publio utilities, such as public markets, thereby reducing ihe cost of foodstuffs to tho. people and enhancing the revenue of tho city treasury. It is riot generally known that merchants are drawing £9000 pelannum in commissions as the result of their connection with tha privately-owned markets of the city. The people "have to End that £9000; they would save it with public markets. To (he student of politioal economy there are numerous practical ways of answering the query of Mr. iJiss (and these aro quite apparent to Mr. Reardon), but they are altogether too many to exhaustively deal with in your columns by a single letter. Suffice it to say, the suggestions have been, and can be, effectively accomplished. Absence from the city interfered with my replying earlier.— l am, etc-., VV. T. YOUNG, Harbour Board Labour Candidate, not City Council. 22nd April.