TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13362, 2 March 1909, Page 2

TRAMWAY BOARD.

The Christchurch 'lVamway Board met j-o&tcrday aft-ernoon. when there were 'present, Messrs H. Pearce (ciiairmam), C. M. Gray. J. Richardson, D. JSykes and S. A. iitaples. "Apologies for absence wore received from Messrs A. W. Beaven. Geo. 1 Booth, and J. A. Flesher. A special meeting was first held, whon a special order adopting the new by-laws was passed. It was resolved that die special order should be confirmed at a meeting to be held on Monday, April sth. The Chairman stated that a .certificate had been received from the I üblic Works Department, and the aiew line, from Worcester street to Colombo street by the Bank of New Zealand was oponed that morning. The traffic superintendent, on the opening ot the Une, decided to put on four extra cars to Linwood on .Saturday nights at is-ii , 9.7, 9.41 a.nd 10.7. The cars would start from the Clock Tower. Ihe completion of the line would also get over t '.o trouble in connection with the loading of the New Brighton cars from the west, aide of the .Square. The tralfic superintendent was also considering the niattor of putting on cars leaving at 12.12 or 12.14 and 1.12 or 1.14 j on most of the nvairi linoe for the convenience of passengers going to lunch. At present tuo cars started at 12.3 ami 1.3, which at times proved inconvenient. A letter was to come before the Board from the Conciliation Commissioner relative to an industrial agreement with the Union, and he thought if the Board could come to some arrangement without going to arbitration they should tlo so. Ihe Staff Committee reported that in order to provide more constant employment for the men employed on till© road sprinklers—who did .not make ordinary wages in wet and broken weather—it had transferred those men I from tho engineering department to the traffic department. In order, also, to cope more successfully with the ••rush" traffic, and to reduce to come extent the .inconvenience of overcrowding at those times, the committee pro-posed-to increase .the Jiumber of men on the ''spare list." The committee had under consideration, the question of providing a better inspection and maintenance of the track, and hoped to report on the matter very shortly. Tlio last clause was referred to tiho Works and Traffic Committee; otherwise the report was adopted. The Works and Traffic Committee reported that it had ordered five tons of tiro bare for the Power Station boilers, at £17 per ton. It Jiad also ordered a.n extra set of .trucks for spare purposes, making five =ets in all, at ios per set, excluding w.hec'ls. The committee had not yet, decided upon the best type of car-body to be- used, but hoped to be able to report on the matter to the next meeting. A light had been installed at Aldwin's road, the terminus of the Linwood _ service. Further information respecting the traffic possibilities of the suggested new extension wias being obtained. 'Jlic committee was considering the question of improving the facilities of bell communication between passengers and conductors and motormen. The report was adopted. The Town Clerk wrote stating that the matter of the proposed removal, of the carriers' stand from the south side, of Cathedral square had been referred to the By-laws Committee and the question of -covering in the s-ide chanjicl in Colombo street to tho Works Committee with power to act. Witih regard to tho alterations and additions to the lines which had been recently made by the Board in Colombo street ;and Cafihedral square, he was directed to inform the Board that the Council coneidcred it should be consulted before the streets were broken up for such purposes. 'liiie Chairman eaid that as a matter of courtesy the City Council should bo consulted, for it was much better that the Board and Council should work together. Ho thought, however, tho Council should help the Board jji tho way of keeping up the- side of the roads to prevent the tramway metal slipping away. Tne letter was received. Mr J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, wrote suggesting that a conference of delegates of the TramwayBoard and the Union should be held, for ihe was of opinion that a satisfactory .agreement for both sides could thus be arrived at. Tho delegates should have full power to enter into an agreement on behalf of the Board and Lnion in reference to wages and conditions. Mr Gray said a-nother a.ttompt should bo made to settle the matter and arrive at an agreement with the men. Several efforte ihad been made to 00me to an agreement, but the secretary of tho Lnion had precipitated matters by making a statement to "The Press." Tho publication of that statement prejudiced a good understanding being arrived at, and the Board felt that as tho secretary of t ; hc Union had chosen to appeal to the public, the Board could not continue negotiations any further. He would move that the Board should adopt the suggestion made by the Conciliation Commissioner and appoint the chairman (Mr H.. Pearce), the deputychairman (Mr Geo. T. Booth), and tho ex-chairman (Mr A. W. Beaven) as its delegates to represent the Board at the conference. Tho motion was seconded by Mr Staples and carried. Mr L. C. Williams wrote complaining of the waait of accommodation on the 4.10 car to Xew Brighton on the afternoon of February 25th. The usual trailer was absent, and in consequence a considerable- proportion of the passengers had to stand, while one of tho New Brighton, teachers and part of her class were left beihind. Tiho Chairman eaid that if the JJoa.rd Ihad been notified by the headmaster that tho children would be travelling by that tram an additional car would Jiave been put on. ' It -was resolved to "reply to that effect. The secretary of the Fire Board forwarded an account for £6 17s to cover the cost of repairing one of tho firo engines" injured through tho tramway cubes being higher than the rails. The- letter was received and referred to the Actions Committee. The hon. secretary of tho Sunnier Popularising Society wrote asking if the Board would grant some assistance in the way of a subsidy in aid of the children's fete to be hold on Thursday, April 15th. It was decided to make the same allowance -as was granted to the Xew Brighton Gala Committee. Ihe secretary of the St. Patrick's Day Concert Committee applied for the extension of the patronage of the lsoard to the concert to bo held on March 17th. The request was granted. The secretary of the New Zealand Federated Tramways Employees' Association wrote asking if the Board would, with other tramway authorities, grant concessions to railway servants during their holidays in order that tho Railway Department might grant a. similar concession to the tramway employees during their holidays. The letter was received. The Clerk to the Heathcote Road Board wrote stating that the owner of the adjoining land objected to the tramway shelter in Breeze's road remaining in its present position, and rho Iload Board suggested that the shelter should be placed on the. Board's freehold on the opposite corner. It was resolved to agree to the suggestion. Accounts amounting to £4288 17s were passed for payment. Mr .Staples moved that additional lights should be provided on the Hiccarton lineat Clyde road, Ham road, and Cutler's road, th© cost to be charged -against the Kiccarton area. The Riccarton Road Board would bo glad to pay half the cost. It was resolved to erect the ljghts provided the expense were shared by the Road Board.