A TALK ABOUT TRAMCARS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 16, 14 October 1907, Page 4

A TALK ABOUT TRAMCARS.

WELLINGTON'S WEAKNESSES.. TROUBLES OP THE AUCKLANDERS.Mr. J. S. Dickson; chairman of the Reinuera I.toad Board, who recently achieved famo by " sticking up" an Auckland tramcar and compelling it to take a trip to'.his suburb in pursuance of the time-table conditions, is in Wellington. Ho is here on parliamentary business, rpartly in connection with the 'building of a bridgo in his district—the ■ aristocratic suburb of Auckland—and partly to secure better representation on tho Auckland Harbour Board. ;: '■','■ Government Control of Tramway Services. Mr. 'Dickson. , expressed ..-himself to a Dominion representative, in favour of tho Tramwaysßill now before the House. " Its aim," he said, "is to give tho Government a control over all the. tram services of the Dominion, something, after the manner of tho control exercised by the Board of Trade in England, only more far r reaching. Our Public' Works Department has certain powers affecting; the- construction of tracks, and. of rolling stock, but boyond that it has no more say in tho running of tho service." : ' ' ' Wellington's Weaknesses. • •.. : ; ■ , Mr. Dickson consented to act as the .candid 'critic. The Auckland service was, .ho said, much faster than that of Wellington.. Bnt the Wellington .system of .automatic, brakes seemed superior. . In Auckland the motorman had two wheels to tiirn with much exortion to'stop the car, but 1 in, Wellington a half-turn of a handle did all; the work The operation of the brake was' also good, and ho observed no "skidding , ' of the wheels. But, then, wheels never skidded,' exception inclines, and Wellington,' with all its hills, had no tramlines up snchhills as the Parnell Riso or Wellesloy Street'in Auckland. The Wellington service was easier on tho motormen than the Auckland service,'and ho supposed the Wellington men were better paid. Tho Auckland rate was a shilling an hour. Tho' Auckland. motorman now had a seat provided, -but no' glass : front. The company, apart from the question of expense, disliked the glass fronts. t ' ; Will Auckland Buy the Service? '" •.. To tho question whether Auckland wouljl purchase: its service, Mr; Dickson expressed himself in the negative.' The purchase of the service' on reasonable .terms would naturally be popular with the people, but'it was not' likely to' bo accomplished. Tho scheme of Air. Meyers,, the' Mayor, was''that' Auckland and all the suburbs should combine , to take ■a number-of shares and' control the', servico' jointly. That would not come off now. . There, would, however, be no £4000' of tho ; profitsi. for Auckland this year. ; .., 1!V ~... .j ;..;.; ;' The," Strap Hangers.". ■■■: -.!' ; ■) ■ Has it'.been a bad year '?■■'• '-'■'■" ■[';''[;''[ ■'■'"•The abolition of • tho"''strap-hangers ' caused the company-considerable loss. It mado; a .difference of quite £1| per car? inan. eight-hour ■ shift. 'The'result bfthp posi-. tiqn created was' that' the company'had; ti> bring out its reservo cars, .from tho 1 'sheds', .and employ more men to run them, I 'arid to , have all repairs promptly effected.''.' ' Straphanging' has l now been-reinstated," "'■■'■'"• \ The New Dispute. :■■' ;\'■■■■.-■'■. ■:'.: "■■;. ■=.-■■: ; •What is tho pbsition'iri regard' to" "strap- ■ hanging'' , P '";•"•' ' " '■■'•■■ ;■■■'■•■ . "Tho City Council recently .'rescinded'its 1 strap-hangmg. , ; by-law I ,.:and. : lias sanctioned that practice. Twelve 'strap-hangers,', are permitted' in double-deck cars,' eight in', the combination single-deck cars, and none in.the small cars or on the Parnell" Rise. Tho Tramway Employees',' Uiiiotl, of which 'I .'am a trustee, ■' has ' consequently applied , to tho Supremo Court for an injunction'calling',upon, tho City Couhcil'to sliow'c'ause : why the bylaw should bo, rescinded.. The Hon.' JT'Av Tol6 : '(CrbWn >, -Sb'licit'"b'r) 'will conduct tho case for the men." ■■' ■■■.. . .:'".'" '•'.>■'•"■': -^ Why no Palace Cars? "/; Why have you never had palace cars introduced in the Auckland 'service'?" ; ' , ■ ; "They are not : ''suitable: They have not even been i>roposed. The dust nuisance, for 1 one' thing,' is 'against them. "Arid—- : Look, at that one I The people are : all "getting, wet.. They can't-p'dssibly keep the doors'always .shut , or' tlio -blinds always down." 'i\ ' '\'.-.'., ■ Under ;the Cow. Catcher. ' ; . .'".-■ I .-'■' "We have jack stations established all over the Auckland .service," instead of, each car carrying a jack. The. jacks are for lifting cars in case.of accident with somebody jammed beneath. 71 was engaged in :an j inquest only recently where a man fell in front of a car, and his arm, getting beneath tho cow-, catcher,, lifted , it,-, and let. his body pass under." ■ ' ' . '; ••■••• ■

Mr. Dickson'hopes to return, to Auckland next Monday. _...' . .