THE TRAMWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 252, 22 October 1907, Page 3

THE TRAMWAYS.

PROTEST AGAINST PROPOSED LEGISLATION .The effect of the new Tramways Bill in taking away the powers of local bodies-Awas referred to at the .meeting of; the . Parnell Borough Council last evening. The Mayor (Mr. G. W. Basley) considered that, although thfl time was somewhat late, they should pass some resolution on the subject. He thought that they, should support the action of the! Tiayor of Auckland and the City Council in condemning the measure.. '■ Mr. Lundon agreed: He had been informed that one result of Mr. Poole's declamation against the Council was that to- would secure: a solid tramway vote at the next election. One of Mr. Poole's strong points for centralisation was that ensuring :that .the mechanism of the cars should be thoroughly looked after, i'he case of the p.s. Te Aroha, which was wrecked at Whangarei, just after having undergone Government inspection, had not proved'in favour of thaj; system of examination . . . The Mayor moved, "That this Councl! cordially approve of the action of the City Council in protesting against the -new Tramways Sill; that it adds a further protest against the measure; that a.copy of the resolution be sent sto the Minister, in charge of the bill, and also to the member for the district." ■ Mr. liusk, in seconding the motion, said that the centralising of things in Wellington was inimical to the interests and powers of the local bodies. A few' more cases of this kind, and they might as-well all' retire. • Mr. Fitt stated.that, so far from having, power taken from-them, local bodies should have th'eiir authority extended. . Mr. Wood considered that the bill was a grave reflection on. all the councillors of Auckland. The Government had quite ' enough' to :do without - meddling with the localbodies. The 'whole "matter appeared to -rest on the straphangers' question in Auckland.., , The "motion was carried ■unanimously. TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. Mr H. Schofleld referred••: at the meeting- of the Grey Lynn Borough Council to the recent tramway fatality on-Pon-sonby-road, .and-expressed: regret -that,a resident of the borpugh.should have been the victim. . Hejnbved:— ■ "That in order that -; such accidents ThSaU Intending passengers shall board '■«?e* car at'thV rear; (b). that passengers 1,, nil cases shall alight in the .front .-of- the "ir- and tLt a coly of the regulations be Si'+ort in every car and strictly enforced: lv that ? a copy of this resolution .be sect : to the Traiway, Company, and also the lntter%art the resolution be cent to City Conncil and all suburban - bodies where the cars-rub,. with a 'request that £fey?sbpport the proposed reflation, as being the 1 greater .safety and- convenience of the EoWlc" _...,,.; :j

He .said, that in Dunedin he saw the system working, 'and it'- answered very ; well. " .Passengers alighting; from- a car, could see another car. approaching,, and there was :no. conrusiojk; amongst passengers getting on "and, off, the cars.. Jln Auckland at pri&int it ' was simply, a scramble..". ' ■. ~ ' ' •' .Mr. Q-V J... Garland seconded the motion. .. Mr. G. Sayers thought the cars should stop in' Ponsonby under'".tlie same sys-' tern, as ;they' did in' Queen-street,- arid, one at each' side of the intersecting road. He suggested that the' follow&g -words be added to the 'motion:—i"That the Tramway Company be requested to allow the stopping places on the same principle as that recently adopted in Gueen-street.". ■ . ', . - Mr. Holdsworth said it would be better" to send'the'.resolutions to Wellington, where' the trains would' be" controlled in future.'. ' ■ • "- , The motitu -was adopted with the suggestion added by Mti Sayers.