THOSE TRAM. RULES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1184, 20 July 1911, Page 4

THOSE TRAM. RULES.

' CHRISTCHURCH OBJECTIONS. HIGHER FARES WOULD BE UNAVOIDABLE. ißy Tciccrapb-I'rnfQ Association.! Christchurch, July 19. The Clirisleluirch 'Iraniway Board haa addre-sed a memorandum to the various local bodies in the Christehureh district setting out the objections of the board to ( lie proposed new t rum way regulat ions The objections briefly are as follow:— The regulations propose to limit tha carrying capacity of each car as follows: hi,the centre aisle cars or in the saloons of combination cars tho number of passengers allowed to stand must not exceed the number that can stand in single file. Thus oil the popular eight-wheel single saloon combination car only ten passengers could he carried in execss of (ho seating accommodation, whereas at times ot special rush traffic forty could bo safely accommodated. "Tho Press" stales that over-loading would be permitted to the extent of 75 per cent. This is a mistake. llie Minister in charge of the Amendment Act of last session overcame y:™ 2 of the opposition by inserting in tiio Bill that the maximum number of passengers on any car shall not exceed 75 per cent, of its seating capacity. This was taken as an indication of the extent of overloading to bo permitted, and was regarded by opponents of the Bill as fairly satisfactory, but the regulations under notice provide for a much smaller percentago. So far as Christehureh is concerned the maximum number of passengers to be permitted will only be 31 per cent, in the case of the total number of electric cars, and 25 per cent, in tho caso of trailers, whereas standing passengers to the extent of more than twice these amounts could easily and quite safely be carried. If this regulation bccomes law tho board will be compelled lo either increase its rollingstock very considerably or be unablo to carry tho large number of passengers who now travel on holiday and other special occasions. To do tho first would uot only mean a large increase in capital expenditure (an electric car costs approximately .£1200), but would mean a big increase in operating expenses, neecssitated by tho employment of additional motor-men and conductors, with little or no corresponding increaso in revenue. An increaso in fares would bo unavoidable. It must be noted that at present some of tho lines are not paying, and the system, ns a whole, has but a small surplus, which is entirely dependent upon fine weather during holiday seasons. The regulations provide that if tho step of any' car is more than fourteen inches in height a movable step must he provided. If tho conducfor fails lo obey a request by a passenger for use of such step, lie is liable to a fine. Possibly several passengers might call for this' convenience ' at one stop, and presumably lmvo to be accommodated in turn, involving serious delays. Tho board further notes Hint these movable steps would be very likely to cause accident lo the person desiring to use them. If the regulations aro adopted, the board would bo compelled to station an officer at every point where passengers join cars in large numbers, form the passengers in line in order in which tlicy have arrived at sucli boarding point, and see that they obtain a place in tho various cars in order of priority. This regulation is so unworkable and ridiculous thnt oomment is unnecessary. Still further matters might bo mentioned, but sufficient hus been said to induce, it js hoped, every local body whoso opinion has been sought to forward a strong protest to tho Minister of Public Works.

The Tramway Board is sending representatives to .1 oonferonec of tramway authorities convened by' tho Wellington City Council, at which the Government proposals will bo examined in detail, and concorted action agreed upon, but it would much strengthen tho representations to be ijindo nv that confcreneo if the various local bodies were to assist in preventing the adoption of regulations interfere With' tllb convenience of the travelling public, and add considerably to the financial responsibilities of tho ratepayers. .. . - '

WANGANUI CRITICISM. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Wanganui, July 13. Reporting to the Wanganui Borough Council on tho tramway regulations, Air. F. P. Talboys, Tramway Engineer, characterises them as burdensome, higli-liaud-ed, and uncalled for. If carried out, they will make it impossible to run tho smaller system like that of Wanganui except at serious ■ loss, involving a substantial call 011 the rates, and so far from benefiting the public, will put Ihein to inconvenience. Dealing with the increased cost which tho regulations will entail, tho engineer says it will compel an additional expenditure of at least J210.000 o'l plant and .rolling-stock, and in addition to the annual charges on this sum, tho extra cxpenso of work. The appointment of traffic inspectors contemplated by tho regulations will moan another J!lM>O per year added to tho slieet., Tho engineer deals in detail with (ho effects that may bo expected if tho regulations aro carried into effect, and. ridicules the proposal that conductors should run round with a foot stool U) enable prissencers to alight. Mr. J. T. Ilogan, M.P., writing to the press on the same matter, says there is a great deal of unnecessary alarm over tho matter, and 100 much fuss over very little. Ho says the regulations are only as yet in draft form, and have been forwarded to local bodies ill confidence for their opinions, and they have committed a breach of confidence, and rushed into print over tho matter. He says the Labour Bills Committee held twcnty-lhrco meetings last session over tho regulations/ and examined a large number of witnesses, a.nd made exhaustive inquiry before. Parliament gave authority to tho Minister for makiug regulations, <ind ho is sure "no sane Minister would _ attempt to Gazette'' regulations prohibiting people from standing in cars." Mr. A. G. Bignell, chairman of the Gonvillo-Castloelift' Tramways Board, ill reply to this, says it is difficult to conceive that any sensible body of men could evolve such farcical regulations.