TRAMWAY MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 5

TRAMWAY MATTERS.

DEPUTATION TO HON. R. M'KENZIE SPEED REGULATIONS. AMENDING LEGISLATION SOUGHT. The necessity for amending legislation, relating to tramways was brought under the notice of tho Hon. R. M'Kenzie (Minister Jor Public Works) last night by a deputation representative of tramwaymcn throughout tho Dominion, and consisting of Motormen Moir, Faire, and Waters, of the Wellington Tramways Union, and Motorman Dalton' and Conductor Timms, and Mr, W. L. Jones, general secretary of the New Zealand Tramways Federar ■ tion. Tlioro were also present Mr. Fisher, M.P., who introduced tho deputation, and Messrs. Wright, T. E. Taylor, Poole, Herdman, Davey, and Ell, ILP.'s. Mr. Fisher, AI.P., in his introductory remarks, stated that the wants of tho tramwaymcn wehs: An Appeal Board with the power of veto, the appointment of a Government inspector in. conncction with the various tramway services, a thorough system of training for motorliieu, and the granting of certificates upon examination, repair Ijoeks with feed leaves, a reduction in the speed limits, and uniformity of equipment on all cars. In conclusion he said that most of the members who represented electorates in which there were electric tramways had expressed themselves as being favourable to tho proposals which he had outlined. Mr. Jones, secretary of tho New Zealand Tramways Federation, deolaml that tho deputation represented tramwaymcn throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion. Tramwaymcn desired to eeo Mj. M'Uowan's Bill of 1907 reintroduced with a few additions. He then proceeded to advance reasons in favour of the demands of tho workers. It was (he said) not desired that all the cars should 1» altered at ouce. What was_ wanted was that new .cars should bo properly equipped, and that tho present ones should have defects remedied when they were being overhauled. Mr. Sutherland, president of tho New Zealand Tramways Federation, said that at present there was no friction between the employers and tho workers. There was, however, a feeling of insecurity for workers wero liable to be wrbngly dismissed. He instanced the fact that recently a conductor was dismissed for having wrong tickets on his oar, but it was afterwards found that there had been a mistake in the printing. Motormen again objected to the whole of the responsibility in connection with the failure of brakes falling upon them. Motorman Moir, in support of the claim for an Appeal Board, gave instances as to wrong numbering of tickets, also as to how motormea were iuconveiiieuccd. Mr. M'Kenzie: You will have to give me as much evidence as possible. Mr. Moir: We will do all wo can to lielp you. Motorman Faire emphasised the difficulties under which motormen labour. If there was a mishap, even although the. gear were at fault, a motorman was usually disrated. He gave figures relating to the speeds in various routes in this city as follow:—Government .Station to Island Bay, 20 miles; Newtown to Karo?' 1^„ nu ,' os; Karor i to Gardens, 26 milfls; Glydo Quay to Lambton Station, 30 miles; Rintoul Street to Island Bay, miles. The lowest average speed it had been found was over 16 miles per hour. Seeing that motormen had greater responsibility on their shoulders than, engine-drivers, etc., they should bo certiHeated. A inotormau, especially in narrow streets like Manners Street, must ba prepared to meet an emergency at every nnn the 'i ar " He ,rent on to sa J" that 60,000 people were carried every day in Wellington, and that the average number ot miles run by each car during a sixteen-hour day was 113. Conductor Timms emphasised the point that Hong-Ivong and Palace ears should not be used in narrow streets, as coni!llrC^ S r a " a fn. 03 ' risk wWlst collecting the lares. These types of cars wera Known among tramwaymen as "man traps. With regard to the question'of training of motormon, Mr. Fisher asked if (here were? any instances of incompetent cars'" g pen P nt in charge of Motorman Faire, in reply, said that it had been the custom of tho Wellington Coiporation to allow clerks from tho head ofneo to drive cars on Saturdays and busv (ia\s. lheso officials had previously on.lv rcceivcd instruction for an hour or two or a fortnight Usually a motorman hail a fortnights training with a compotent driver, and prior to this instruct tion tor three days under a special instructor. Mr. Fisher, later, asked for an example as to overcrowding. Mr. Faire: AVell, last Saturday a car to luntoul btreet, which was licensed to carry 18 passengers, held no fewer than Mr. Fisher: And would the conductor have been penalised if he had missed a fare ? Mt. Faire: Oil, yes. There was subsequently a discussion as to the rate of speed which 6hould bo permitted. Mr. M'Kenzie: What would you call a reasonablo speed? Members of the deputation: Fifteen miles an hour. Mr. T. E. Taylor: Do you suggest that that should Ije tho highest speed ? Mr. M'Kenzie: If tho Bill is to have a ohance of passing, I must bo fair and reasonable to the corporations and companies, Mr. Poole: There are two speeds in Melbourne —one for the city and another for the suburbs. Eventually it was stated that the tramwaymcn would be prepared to leave the question to the Government. Before tho deputation took its departure, the Minister stated that he hoped to get his Bill before the Houso at an early date. It would, -of course, have to go before a special committee to see if it could be improved. llr. Jones: Will you require any mora evidence? Mr. H'Kenzie: I don't know yet.