Aug. 8.
'The rickshaw issue has been' settled. Whether that _settlement will satisfy public opinion or not remains to be seen, though it is claimed in at least one quarter that the compromise arrived at saves the "face" of all concerned, though, perhaps, a closer examination of all the facts may not! entirely justify so gratifying a statement. It will be remembered that it was originally proposed that the cost of rickshaw. hire to the puller should be reduced from the existing 14 ten cent pieces to eight ten cent pieces, with allowance made for the payment of a sum toward the maintenance of relief ~—work amongst the pullers. In ordos that the change should not bear too hardly upon the rickshaw owners, for whose interests there has been displayed the tender regard indicated in Mr. A. D. Bell's speech at the ratepayers meet~ ing, it was decided that the reduction should be made in two stages—the first on August 1 to 10 ten cent pieces plus one ten cent piece for relief work, or eleven ten cent picees in all, and a second on January 10, The owners countered with an offer. of eighty-five cents big money plus sixteen coppers for' relief work, and there the matter stood when an extension of the time for the reistration of ownership was granted, and the last day for the taking out of licences changed from the first of the month to the thir~ teenth. It was apparent from that moment that the extra time thus rendered available would be used for the purpose of effecting a compromise, and it is, or is not a matter upon which the authorities wre' to be" congratulated—that within the first six days of the extended period a settlement of the issue has been arrived at on a basis which deserves a little more examination in view of the claim that all round has been. saved. 'The recalcitrant owners have now agreed to apply for heir certificates of ownership and 0 take out the licences, and the authorities have agreed' that the Dwners shall be allowed to charge 1 total of 85 cents big money—78 ent for themselves and seven for he relief fund. The owners originally offered to accept 85 ents big money and sixteen copers, which may in fact be taken roughly representing 92 cents ix money, and the Council have compromised at seven cents big nancy less than the owners? riginal offer.
Perhaps a better method of in-cating the position is to acept_a figure of say 330 coppers or $1 big money, and 23 coppers or ten cents small money, and, educing the figures to coppers through, the following inforation is obtained: coppers Owners original charge "329 Fra reduction proposed plus money for relic Owners compromise offer 296
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.