OBSTRUCTION BY TRAMWAY POLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 82, 8 April 1902, Page 2

OBSTRUCTION BY TRAMWAY POLES.

(To the' Editor.)

Sir. —Your correspondent, neer," must calculate a good deal upon the ignorance of Aucklandevs when writing on the above subject. Tn his first/ letter, in reply to my complaint about tlie obstruction caused by the tramway poles between Albert and Hobson streets, he stated that "wherever possible centre poles have been used in Sydney" and some Continental cities he mentioned. When I challenged this statement with reference to Sydney, he now admits that except in Georgestreet, and the short extension from George-street, along Harris-street, to the terminus at Pyrmont, side poles are, without exception, used upon the extensive electric tramway system which connects the suburbs of Sydney with the centre of the city. His excuse that the, electric tramways superseded steam tramways is a puerile one, because it was quite "possible" to lay down new rails, and on some of the old Ilnea the rails of the steam tramway are so worn that this will have to'be done. Besides, the new lines along Castlereagh and Pitt streets, and at North Sydney, are suspended from side poles. And what about the entire electric tram service in Brisbane, which was as completely a new installation as that in Auckland? Also the electric tramways constructed by the-great corporations of Liverpool and Glasgow, after expert commissions of inquiry had carried out extensive investigations—extending, in the case of Glasgow, over two years —in Eu-i rope and America? Your correspondent's ' attempted '■'bluff" has done the, cause of the Tramway Company, which he is evidently anxious to serve, no good, but the reverse. PersonaLv, as I have already stated, I am favourable, not adverse, to the employment of centre poles, under suitable conditions, these being (1) that the roads Where they are erected are wide enough for the traffic to divide on either side, with room for vehicles to pass each other; and' (2) that the poles shall be adequately lit at night. The section to which I take objection does not answer to these conditions. There is not room, for a vehicle to pass safely between the tram line and the footpath, and it must pull over to the wrong siae of the street, unless the cars are to follow every lumbering waggon that gets ahead of them. Customs-street at this point was too narrow for a double line of tramway, but the evil has been greatly aggravated by the erection of these centre poles* and if the .Company do not see that it is to their own interests to remove them I say most emphatically that the North Ward members should take some steps to conserve the rights of the resident property-owners, in the vicinity, and to ensure the safety of vehicular traffic.—T am. etc., A HOBSON-STREET. RATEPAYER.

fro the Editor.)

Sir,: —T notice from a letter over the signature of "Engineer" in the "Star" the other day that he Instifies the erection of the trolley-wire posts in the centre of the streets; in the interest and for the benefit of traffic; that it will compel A rehicles to keep to their right side of the road. T will state a case, asking "Engineer" to giA'e his opinion upon it. A carter working for a store leaves town late on a winter's afternoon with a load to deliver at shops on both sides of a street where the poles are down the centre. Tf the carter is barred from crossing the street to deliver a sack of potatoes, maize or wheat, he would have to keep on his oavii side and carry the sack across, with the chance of being A4'bowled" over by a tram-car or a passing vehicle, the sack and man throwing- the ear off the line, with the risk of injury, not only to the carter, but also to the passengers on the tram. To fall in with "Engineer's" point of view, the carter would have to run that risk, or pass the shops on his wT-ong side, and after delivering what goods -he had for the one side, deliver what he had for the other on his return, which Avould cause a large increase in the charge for delivering goods, and also overtime for carter. Which , does "Engineer" think would be best for the carter —run the risk or get the overtime? My opinion regarding the poles are, they were erected in the centre for the benefit of the Company first, the traffic second.—-I am, etc., ONE WHO MIGHT HAVE TO DO IT.