arguments I was going to make use of, and having heard your Excellency's view on this subject, it is needless for me to say that the introduction of tramways into this Colony is a thing which is much required. Speaking for the large section of the community, the Chinese, I am sure when the scheme is known to them they will look upon it with much favour. I have spoken to some of the influential Chinese and they have all seemed favourably disposed towards the scheme; in fact, I don't think there can be two opinions about it. Looking at the present state of things in this Colony, as disclosed by the census returns published in the Gazette, it is evident the Colony has been making great progress, and I venture to say it will continue to make progress.
A casual observer will at once see on going round the town of Victoria that the large proportion of the Chinese are gathered together in the western part of the town. It is so thickly populated there that every nook and corner is occupied, while the eastern portion of the town is far less thickly populated. If the tramway is introduced I am sure that a large portion of the Chinese inhabitants of this Colony will remove from the west to the east, and for this reason, that at present in the western portion rent is very high, while in the eastern portion it is very low. I think for a house in the west the rent is about ten times as high as for a house in the east. That being so, if tramways were introduced the inevitable result would be that the poorer class of Chinese would go to where they could get cheap houses, and in enabling them to do that the scheme would be a great boon to the poorer class of Chinese.
It may be asked why, as my hon. friend opposite has just got leave to introduce a Bill of exactly similar nature, I should do the same. I think the answer to this question is that competition is good for the public. In these days of competition you cannot do anything without it, and I hold it is good for the public we should have competition. I do not mean to ask the Government to sanction the formation of two tramway companies, but what I mean is this, that since the two schemes have been initiated let them be submitted to the Council and the best one be approved of and adopted, and nothing more. If the scheme proposed by my hon. friend is superior to the one I am going to propose, by all means adopt it; but, on the other hand, if the scheme I am going to propose does possess good qualities, and is worthy of adoption and superior to the one proposed by my hon. friend opposite, then I trust the Council will, in the interest of the public, and irrespective of the parties introducing the Bill, and irrespective of the engineers who drew up the plan, adopt the one which is best for the Colony. -(Applause.)
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I need hardly say the Government will also assent to the introduction of the Bill at the next meeting of the Council. I am not sorry that we have these rival measures before us. Even the most flourishing community in the world may be injured by monopoly. I like the idea of rival companies, especially in the matter of traffic. (Applause). I will only say that if we can have a tramway in this Colony, I wish success to that scheme which the Committee of the Legislative Council may pronounce to be the best and cheapest. (Applause.)
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arguments I was going to make use of, and
having heard your Excellency's view on this subject, it is needless for me to say that the iu- trodaction of tramways into this Colony is a thing which much required. Speaking for the! large section of the community, the Chiuese, I am sure when the soleme is known to them they will look upon it with much favour. I have spoken to some of the influential Chinese and they have all seemed favourably disposed towards thescheme,in faot I don't think there can be two opinions about it. Looking at the present state of things in this Colony, as disclosed by the census returns pub. lished in the Gazette, it is evident the Colony has been making great progress, and I venture to say it will continue to make progress. A casual observer will at once see on going round the town of Victoria that the large proportion of the Chinese are gathered together in the western part of the town. It is so thickly populated there that 'every nook and corner is occupied, while the eastern portion of the town is far less thickly populated." If the tramway is introduced I am sure that a large portion of the Chinese inhabitants of this Colony will remove from the west to the east, and for this reason, that at present in the western portion rent is very high, while in the eastern portion it is very low. I think for a house in the west the reat is about ten times as high as for a house in the east. | That being so, if tramways were introduced the inevitable result would be that the poorer class of Chinese would go to where they could get cheap houses, and in enabling them to do that the scheme would be a great boon to the poorer class of Chinese. It may be asked why, as my hoa. friend opposite has jast got leave to intro duce a Bill of exactly similar nature, I should do the same. I think the answer to this question is that competition is good for the public. In these days of competition you cannot do anything without it, and I hold it is good for the public we should have competition. I do not mean to ask the Government to sanotion the formatiou of two tramway companies, but what I mean is this, that since the two schemes have been initiated let them be submitted to the Council and the best one be approved of and adopted, and nothing more. If the scheme proposed by my hon. friend is superior to the oue I am going to propose, by all means adopt it; but, on the other hand, if the scheme I am going to propose does possess good qualities, and is worthy of adoption and superior to the one pro- posed by my hon. friend opposite, then I trust the Council will, in the interest of the public, and ir- respective of the parties introducing the Bill, and irrespective of the engineers who drew up the plau, adopt the one which is best for the Colony. -(Applause.)
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I uned hardly say the Government will also assent to the in troduction of the bill at the next meeting of the Council. I am not sorry that we hare these rival measures before us. Even the most fourish- ing community in the world may be injured by monopoly. I like the idea of rival companies, especially in the matter of traffic. (Applause). I will only say that if we can have a tramway in this Colony, I wish saccess to that sohame which the Committee of the Legislative Council may prononace to be the best and cheapest. (Applause.)
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