TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13741, 24 May 1910, Page 8

TRAMWAY BOARD.

A meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board was held yesterday afternoon, there beini_ present: —Messrs H. Pearco (chairman), G. T. Booth, W. Recce, C. M. Gray, W. Hill. A. W. Beaven. and S. A. Staples. Tho Chairman said tbat the Cranford street extension would be opened within seven weeks, and thero would be cars available by that date. The poles would bo erected on the Cashel street Jim*, withiu the Belt, as soon as the poles in Cranford street were finished. He thought that electric cars would be running "to Burwood, via Cashel street, by the first week in August. The battery would lie ready by the end or July. In "regard to the Windmill road line, matters had not -.ot much further, but the Board were negotiating with the Sprevdon Road Board, and it was hoped tbat an agreement would be come to.

STAFF COMMITTEE. The Staff Committee reported that ithad received from tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers proposals for_ ail industrial agreement, the terms of which it could not agree to accept. It had instructed the engineer to represent the Board at the Conciliation Council. The comniitteo recommended that a special _rade for a limited number of the best and most experienced conductors be instituted, conductors to bo raised to this higher grade on merit only- and entirely at the discretion of tho* management. This promotion wn** not to be deemed to prejudice in any wav the Board's position with respect to "the minimum rates as set out in the industrial agreement. Tbe ob-eet was to retain in the ranks of conductors some of the. best men who at present were entitled to promotion to the rank of. motonnen. 'Die reoort was adopted, after Mr Beaven had explained the proposals made. He thought that the number ot promotions might be limited to twelve. Mr Recce said that he approved of tho idea, but the power given by the. report was very large. Alter further discussion, the Staff Committee wero given power to carry out the terms of tho report CORRESPONDENCE. Eleven residents of Watt's road, Upper Riccarten, asked that trams be stoppeel at the end of the road, Tho matter was left to the general manager, traffic superintendent, and Mr Staples. Mr S. S. Blackburne, secretary of tho Hackthorne Road Extension Committee, wrote that the committee did not propose to promote any legislation on their own account. When the Board's Bill became Jaw. the committee would approach tho Board with reference to an extension of the tramway district and the creation of a special rating area.

Tho secretary of tho New Brighton Burgesses' Association drew attention to the practice of switching off the electric li_lits on trailers before their arrival at their destination. The traffic superintendent was instructed to deal with this matter, tho Board agreeing that the practice was a dangerous one. Mr L. ~M. Isit-t. wrote asking tho Board to receive a deputation in regard to -special cars in connection with an approaching mission. The Chairman said that the Board had a rule in regard to special cars, and the case presented by Mr Isitt did not come within it. This had been explained to Mr Isitt Tho Board agreeel that it would not be wise to make an exception to the rule.

The-whole question of shelters, particularly touching the co-operation of loca' bodies with tho Board in their erection, was referred to the Works and Traffic Committee.