THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1882. A PUBLIC CONVENIENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2541, 31 May 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1882. A PUBLIC CONVENIENCE.

It is with very great pleasure that we notice the arrangement proposed to be made by which the public will be enabled to leave the tram cars not only with some degree of comfort but comparative safety from accident. Some months back we called attention to this matter, and now that the winter months, with short days, are setting in, it is even more important that the improvement should be carried out without delay. For months past passengers have had to run the chance of being maimed for life by a passing hansom, driven at full speed, and it has been a mere miracle that ladies and children especially have been able to reach the side walk in safety. The proposal to allow the cars to draw np to the footpath is indeed a step in the right direction, hut there is yet another improvement which, if carried out, would be a great boon to the large number of persons who travel by the tramway. We allude to the erection of some kind of protection from the weather. It need not interfere in the least degree with the traffic, hut it might he so arranged as to keep off the rain from those who have perhaps a quarter of an hour to wait to catch a tram. If this can be arranged, and wo see no reason whatever why it cannot, the comforts and conveniences of tramway travelling will be greatly enhanced. While speaking on this subject wo may venture to express a hope that the City Council, in passing the new by-law, will not enact provi-uona which are in any way calculated to cripple or restrict the Tramway Company unduly. While disposed to uphold the rights of the citizens to the utmost, it must also be remembered that the tramways are great public conveniences. They have, to a certain extent, entirely revolutionised locomotion in Christchurch, and therefore the company is entitled to some degree of consideration. Wo quite agree with the Council, as the representatives of the citizens, having some degree of control over the tram-cars, as over all other licensed vehicles plying within the city, but this must not ho oppressive, and a fair scope given to enable the company to carry out its work remuneratively, and at the same time safely with regard to the public. We commend the subject of the shelter for passengers to the City Council and the Tramway Company. No doubt a conference of tbo two bodies will bo able so to arrange the matter as to allow of the public convenience in one way to bo studied without interference with the traffic. If it can bo done, it will certainly bo a great boon to a largo section of the community.

THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE DRAINAGE BOARD. A.s wo anticipated, the City Connell decidedly object to tbo withdrawal from them of tho powers granted some time ago by tho Drainage Board, with respect to the sanitary supervision of tho city. As we pointed out at the time, the motion was proposed at tho Board of Health. No reasons whatever were adduced for such a stop. On the contrary, the mover of the resolution himself stated that tho manner in which tho;civic authorities were discharging their duties loft no room for complaint. Strangely enough, Dr. Doyle wont on to argue that this was tho very reason why tho Board should pass tho resolution. We confess that, as wo before stated, this seems to be tho oddest possible logic. It is exactly the same as if a private firm who had delegated authority to an employe suddenly withdrew their confidence because tho trust was discharged in an exemplary manner. But wo are told by the members of the Board of Health that all that they desire to do is to affirm the principle, and there leave matters; that is, the resolution is “ full of sound and fury, signifying —nothing.” If this is so, and wo are credibly informed

that the position above described is the one taken np by the Board o£ Health, their proceedings in the matter are more erratic and incomprehensible than at first appears. Why should the resolution bo passed at all unless it was intended to bo acted upon ? If the Board do not intend to resume the powers, what need is there for the brilliant eloquence of Dr. Doyle, like the sweetness of the flower spoken of by the poet, to be wasted on the desert air. The whole thing becomes a solemn farce. We have already shown conclusively that the change, if carried out, would not be for the benefit of the | citizens. The sanitary condition of the city is far better now than it was under the old regime. That this is so is amply proved by the fact that the mover of the resolution in the Board of Health was unable to say one word against the way in which the City Council has done the work entrusted to it. The only effect of the resolution has been to unsettle a matter which, after some length of time, was happily arranged. It is not as if the Board of Health had granted these powers without deliberation. Conference after conference took place between the bodies interested, and ultimately they arrived at the conclusion that it would be to the interests of all that the city should undertake the supervision of the sanitary matters within its own boundaries. Apparently, this idea still prevails, and, so far as we can see, the whole end and aim of the motion has been to allow a very worthy member of the Board an opportunity of airing his eloquence, and placing on record a resolution there was no intention of carrying into effect. These two objects having been accomplished, though scarcely conducing to to the reputation of the Board of Health as a deliberative body, the matter may well be allowed to drop. Indeed, it would have been far better if Dr. Doyle, following the example of members of Parliament desiring to make a speech, had, after eliciting an expression of opinion, withdrawn the motion. We trust that some steps will even now be taken to prevent a collision between the two bodies, and the disturbance of present arrangements, which work so well for the benefit of the city and the preservation of the health of its residents