Petition to HM the King by George Vella on Behalf of Cabmen 09-08-1904 (Malta) 3 Pages, manuscript on paper, 20,4 × 33 cm National Archives of Malta NAM/CSG02/879/1904 The Malta tramway was inaugurated on 23 February1905, with Mgr Pietro Pace, the bishop of Malta, blessing all sixteen new trams as three of them made the inaugural trip to Valletta. Newspapers reported that an enthusiastic population were keen to ride on the new trams, and the profits of the first two days (£50) were donated to charity. The new trams were in direct competition with the cabs, boats and railway. However, six months later, on 9 August, George Vella submitted a petition to the King denouncing the “dreadful calamity” that had fallen on the 1,800 cabmen, “the majority of whom have from 5 to 10 children, besides their wives, to keep.” The petition was eventually submitted to the King and on 7 September and the local authorities were informed that “the King has not been pleased to give any directions ....