ROME'S WINE CARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 102, 2 May 1929, Page 9

ROME'S WINE CARTS.

TO BE BANNED ON APPIAN WAY. SLEEPING DRIVERS CAUSE ACCIDENTS. Gradually old customs and habits are giving way to innovations. Local colour is becoming a thing of the past. The Roman horse-drawn cart laden with wine barrels, which for centuries has gladdened the heart of all tourists to Rome, is doomed. In a short time the wine from Frascati. Genzano. Albano and Telletri will be brought into Rome by motor truck. Frascati. where amber-coloured wine i-r, brewed, has abandoned the old manner of transport and find's that the quicker one is better. They have their own cooperative transport company, and would not return to the old carts as the new method has proved less costly. There are no accidents, as is the case in the slower method. Public opinion is against the wine carts, as they have been the cause of many accidents during the last year. The drivers have the habit of sleeping the whole time during their trip to and from Rome. As their journey starts at midnight the horse has to find his own way along the road. Many of these animals are old, and all went well unt'l the new regulations were announced. Xow traffic in and out of town goes to the right. The horses, following their habit, go to the opposite side of the road, and when there is a curve and a car comes along in the dark the result is an accident. The. horse when his master falls asleep walks along until he reaches either the stable of the wine shop or his own. Xo amount of tooting will induce him to move to one side.