The correspondence between the Council and Tram Company which appeared in this week's Gazette is by no means without its humorous side. Incidentally we note from the letter of Messrs, Platt & Ca. of September 17, that, in appealing agauist the recent conviction for overcrowding, the Council's powers to make Regulations are not a subject of that. Appeal, which is addressed to the difficulties our clients have been at some pains to explain to the Council; The Council would be less than human if it could refrain from retorting, that your (Platt & Co.'s) contention, perhaps naturally, appears to be somewhat different from that of the General Manager of the Tramway Com. pany. He denied that the Council had power to make its traffic regulations binding upon the Company, while you admit it.
The gist of the correspondence is this. The Company argue that it is admittedly impossible to cure overcrowding without gates on the trams, and while we are trying to find the right kind of gates what, please, shall we do? To which the Council replies in effect, "That is entirely your business. Whether you put gates on the ears—and by the way, please don't talk as if these were a, new idea, we recommended them to. you a year and a half ago—or whether you employ more conductors is for you to decide: All we want is that you should' obey the regulations." - One is reminded of the saying attributed _to the famous "Johnny" Markham, Justice you go to prison." Then comes some correspondence about a drate agreement regarding extensions and new railless tram routes, sanctioned by the Council during 1922, and the Council observes with regret that the original draft, prepared by the Council's legal representative, in accordance with your (the Tram Co.'s)" request, has suffered extensive modification' at your hands; you appear to have altered it in such a way as to -Jiminate most of the conditions and restrictions binding upon you, while embodying every concession to which the Council has agreed in consideration of those conditions and restrictions.
Meanwhile the Company would not seem to be so_very keen about these extensions, for the correspondence shows that no actual orders have yet been placed for material though all' essential points are said' to lave keen agreed upon. Altogether a very humorous number of the Gazette.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.