The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1912. A GREAT CITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 23 January 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1912. A GREAT CITY.

The very interesting return , published'by the truffle branch of the Board of Trade indicates that Londoners: are deserting their old place j of dwelling ‘ and ‘ with the facilities for easy and quick travel now offered are depopulating the county of London and building up the further suburbs. To such an extent has this gone on that there are those who say that soon the greater part of inner London will bo like the city itself; a place of shops and offices, where people will, work but will net live. For tho first time in its History the 'Gouufyl ibM . London shows 1 a decrease in population. In 1861 the population of the county area was 2,808,494. It rose, steadily until 1901, when it stood at--4,536,267. In 1911 it had fallen to 4,522,961; and the belief is that it will fall yet further. The traffic branch attributes this shifting of population to the development . of tubes, electric tramcars, and motoromnibuses, and to a less degree to the improvement in suburban railway service. This is reflected in their traffic figures. In 1903 the local railways, trams, and omnibuses in Greater London carried 972,465,682 passengers, while in 1910 they carried the enormous total of 1,566,277,272 persons. Not only arc more Londoners travelling, but Londoners are travelling more. On tho estimated population in 1903 each Londonei made 144.9 journeys in tho twelve months, while in 1910 the average number of journeys per person was 218.5. No account is taken in those figures of the enormous number of journeys taken in cabs and private vehicles. Yet, a contemporary states, trade in the suburbs is not increasing; and the reason is the same. The increased use of the telephone leads suburban housewives to order their goods from the city, the use of motor vehicles making their speedy delivery possible. When horse vans were used for delivery purposes their effective radius was about fifteen miles from tho central depot. The motor van can servo a radius of fiftyfive miles, and at a less cost. The motor has lessened congestion of traffic, for the return shows that of all classes of vehicle using the road those mechanically propelled are smaller in size, more manageable, and of greater speed.

THE OUTLOOK.

Speaking at tlio complimentary gathering tendered to the Hon. 0. Buddo, at Rangiora on Thursday night, Sir Arthur Guinness, dealing with the political situation, said that the Liberal party had been caught napping last election. Its organisation was nothing like that of its opponents. The party did not know whether it was in or out. (Laughter.')

The members believed that the party was in, but on the loth of next month they would know definitely. Even if the Opposition wore in, the Liberals had sufficient power in the House to control them and put a brake on them. There would be no attempt made to repeal the Liberal and humanitarian measures. He did not think the Opposition, being men of their word, would attempt to repeal such legislation as the old age pensions, widows’ pensions, and other humanitarian legislation. 1 1

CO-OPERATIVE WORKER?.

The latest departmental returns show that there are 5967 co-operative workers in the service of the Public Works Department, 3216 on railway construction, 198 on buildings, 28 on development of water power, and 2525 on roads. Railways: KawakawaIvokianga 353, North Auckland 435; Past Coast Main Trunk, TaurangaFaengaroa 100, Gisborne-Motu 389, Napier-Cisborne 13; Stratford-Main Trunk 119, Mount Egmont branch 19, South Island Main Trunk, north end 1-58, south end 141, Midland, various sections 415, AVestport-lnangahua 123, Greymouth-Point Elizabeth' 123, Law-renco-Rox burgh 97, Catlin’s-Waima-haka 318. Roads: North Auckland 219, Auckland 131, Tanranga 165, Gisborne 291, Napier 122, Taranaki 795, Wellington 177, Marlborough 62, Nelson 68, Westport S 3, Westland 172, Canterbury 121, Otago 69, Southland 50.