근대 도시의 교통시설인 전철 경영의 독점권을 일본인 중심의 ‘지역사회’로부터 부여받은 조선와사전기주식회사는 지역의 입장에서 전철 건설과 운영이라는 의무를 충실히 수행해야 했다. 하지만 회사는 전철 건설은 물론이고 개선과 운영에 소극적인 반면, 이윤의 확대에는 적극적이었다.
회사의 이윤 확대만을 위한 전철 운영에 대해 부산부와 동래군 특히, 서면 및 동래면(읍)의 일본인과 조선인들은 전차 개선과 구간요금제의 문제점을 지적하며 ‘전차부영운동’, ‘전차임균일제운동’, ‘전차임인하운동’을 일제시기 내내 전개했다.
이처럼 전차 운영을 둘러싸고 전차 개선과 구간요금제에 대해 식민회사와 지역사회는 일제시기 줄곧 갈등했다. 한편, 중재 또는 재정(裁定)의 역할을 수행할 수 있는 식민권력인 조선총독부는 ‘지방문제’라는 입장에서 방관했고, 도지사와 부윤은 지역민의 요청을 무시할 수는 없어 지역사회에 편승하면서도 소극적이었다.
한편, 전차․전기부영과 같은 지역운동일 때는 일본인과 조선인을 차별하는 식민지라는 민족적 모순은 표면상 봉합되고 지역적․계층적 차별은 균열과 갈등으로 나타났다. 하지만 교외와 조선인에 대한 차별은 은폐되어 있었다. 이른바 지역운동의 일부 열매는 부산부, 즉 일본인 중심의 도시지역에는 돌아갔지만, 동래군 즉 조선인 중심의 농촌지역은 거의 혜택을 입지 못하고 소외되었던 것이다.
Chosun Gas and Electric Corporation, which was granted the exclusive rights for the operation of trams, transportation facilities which first appeared in modern cities, from the community led by Japanese people, was required to faithfully carry out the task of building and operating trams in the interests of communities. However, the company did not put in enough effort to build trains or improve the operation of the trams, while making aggressive effort to increase its profits.
In response to the company's operation, which was devoted to expanding its profits, Japanese and Korean people in Busan-bu and Dongrae-gun, particularly people in Seo-myeon and Dongrae-myeon (eup) staged ‘the movement calling for the local government's management of trams,’ ‘the movement to even tram fares,’ and ‘the movement to reduce tram fares’ throughout the Japanese colonial period, demanding the improvement of trams and pointing out the problems of the tram fare system by section.
Likewise the tram company and local communities had conflicts over the issue of improving tram operation and the tram fare system throughout the Japanese colonial period. In the meantime, the Government-General of Chosun, which had the authority to mediate or intervene in the issue, stood by idly, saying that the provincial government should resolve the problem. The provincial governor and the head of Busan-bu, who were required to listen to the requests of local residents, apparently moved along with the residents, but did not make aggressive efforts to achieve the residents' requests.
Meanwhile, when staging local movements calling for the local government's management of trams and electricity, ethnic conflicts resulting from discrimination of Korean people against Japanese were apparently resolved, while conflicts caused by discrimination against region and class were stood out. However, discrimination of Korean people against Japanese was covered up. That is, only people in Busan-bu, the urban area with a high proportion of Japanese people, received benefits from the local movements, while people in Dongrae-gun, the rural area with a high proportion of Korean people, obtained little benefit.