TRAMWAY MATTERS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14238, 29 December 1911, Page 9

TRAMWAY MATTERS.

THE NEW TRAILERS

The Christchurch Tramway Board has recently placed in traffic four new trailers, which will bo used principally on tho New Brighton and.Sumner lines. The car is a cross-scateKT'ono, with sido entrances, and will seat 65 passengers. It is mounted on bogie trucks, which will provide much more comfortable riding than the present four-wheel cars. .In tho past, considerable difficulty has been experienced with the weather blinds, which aro awkward to adjust, and not sufficiently substantial to withstand tho wind pressure sometimes experienced at such exposed places as tho embankment across the Sumner estuary. 'The Board's engineer. Mr W. M. Nelson has, however, fitted tho new trailers with a new rigid blind, but yet with just sufficient flexibility to enable it to bo pushed up into the ceiling of the car, when not in use. It can bo used for either side of the car at tho option of the conductor. They will also bo fitted to tho new electric cars which aro being built for the new Hackthorne' road route, some portions of which are somewhat exposed. The engineer has, however, recommended a still further improvement in respect of the four trailers which are still in the car-builder's hands, and the suggestion has been adopted by" tho Hoard. In this case the weather screen will bo divided into two parts, both resting in the ceiling when not required. They can bo brought down, by the conductor very quickly, and when in position will "form a screen about shoulder height of a seated person. The upper ]>ortion of the open-ing-will bo protected by a glazed window, which also, when not in use, will reposo in the ceiling of the car. If required, both sides can .be protected simultaneously, entrance and exit being obtained from tho ends of the car. The car is expected to be particularly suitable for the local climate. In wintry weather it can be used as a closed car. In fine weather it will be wholly or partially open as occasion requires. Begarding a statement that some of the Tramway Board's employees were kept working for seventeen "hours on I Boxing Day, a representative of "The Press" . was informed by the general manager that the position was that the men booked up in tho morning for ordinary duty, and also for special holiday duty, arid worked Till tho press of the holiday out traffic was relieved; they then returned for their ordinary duty the afternoon. If this method wero not adopted it would mean that the Board could not hope to carry anything like -the largo number of people which seek for accommodation on holidays. Obviously the Board could not afford to employ extra men regularly throughout the whole year, when their services would only be required on holiI days, when extra work has to be done.