AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 678, 1 December 1909, Page 8

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS

EMPHATIC OTATEMENT BY THE HOIL'E: ■:■' -;.v: ,;.-: ;M/kENZEB. :.; , .- : -:/ ■ The present position in regard to the brake equipment on,the Anckland teuncars was 're- > presented :to the for Pu.blio Works (the Hon. B. .M'Keuzie).yesterday by' a deputation from the Auckland Tramways Union Messrs. J.'.". C. 'Moir. (president :of the iTainways t Federation);, and G. Lomas (representing. the iChristchuroh Tramways Union) also attended. , ' , .. -. -. :■: ■'■<■ . ' .-'. •-. •, , ; Mr. ■'Eosser : 'said,.that; a Eoyal :;CommissibiiEeoommended that -the NeweU magnetic brake Bhould; be installed... Although it..was .fifteen months ago since the/report they were,inow, no'further- forward; . Two -tests of «n air, brake were made in June hist, but although these, tests .were -understood to be eminently satisfactory nothing further had been done. /The Department had'stated' that the matter was being: deferred pending theintro-; duction.of a new traok-brake, known':as the , ireund : 'brake,l which/ it\ was. proposed to lnstalm addition to the; air brake. The 'present brakeion snch a gradient:as the College lliil. entailed: a-great strain upon, the motor°>en.\ Two cars : had been installed -with the air "brake, -and -these were, running .satisfactorily. It was understood that there was some difierence of opinion between the Department and the company as to which was the better brake. Experts differed as to the respective merits of the air 'and magnetic brakes. ' It woukl mean'an entire revolution to instal tho Auckland cars with;the.magnetic brakes, but very■■; little alteration would be required to equip the.cars with the air-brake." . - - . llessrs.: Eichai-dson, . Carter,- and Buckley (Auckland motonnen) each stated; that the pre: sent brake ..equipment at Auckland • was insufficient, and ■ favoured the air brake in preference to the.-'niagnetio brake. ■-.. .' . -'■-." ■■ ■■• ;.Mr. Baume,:,MJ.,'said that the matter was snurgent one/ altliough as a layiban he conld not pf course urge the Minister to adopt any parfacular brake. Messrs. Holmes and Richardson, ;who held the inquiry,, were experts. Ho hoped that something would be done immediately.;-:.-•;-, ..-:;.- ..." ~ .;. ■.!,.■ The. Minister said that he. had given this matter a great deal of consideration,'.' and voluminous coiTespondence'had taken place on the. subject' The matter had not boon overlooked,- but there was a difficulty; in dealing with it, The Department had tried ever since it received the. report of the commission to-get the Tramways Company to instal .bettor brakes rho company's reply had'been that it bad the matter m hand. 'The Department had no power to compel the. company to instal new braltes. ■Its only., powder :was to cancel the, licenses of the cars, which, would be. an extreme step to ;take. He had consulted the Crown law officers, as. he recognised ,that the. situation was a very serious one. It was easy enough to set,up-a Eoyal Commission, but its recommendations could not bo enforced without legal authority. :Ho had; also : - discussed the matter with the engiileor-in-chief, who informed : him that when he was recently, in, Auckland he was given, to , understand that the company had matle arrangements for. equipping the cars with the Wostinghousp brake. To dp this would probably tako eix months. The Crown law officers had suggested that legislation might be passed to cpmpol the company to instal the brakes, but if the company had already made arrango;ments, r as stated, it. was a different matter..

• Mr.'Rosser: If we thought that tho brakes would be installed in six months we would be happy. .-,. -■.''•. ...:.;■" '..■■■-.■ .' ■ ■ - • Mr..Ebsser: The.company appear to lay Hie. blame for the delay at the door of tho Government. ' ■■'■' '■ ••■ ; - '.' , . :, ----- • "'. ■ *■-• ' - \ Mr. M'Kenzie: We have, nothing to do with it ' -Mr. Eossor: That impression prevails and ■ showld be removed. ■.:■■■;., . ~ "-."; ; Mr..; MlCenzie : (emphatical]y): ,;I '.will soon remove that impressipnJ. I iwill stop one or :two of their cars on the steeper gradients. I will; Boon cure, them of that.idei, ; ;.;;.!•:.