TRANSPORT PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 3

TRANSPORT PROBLEM

Change In Civil Service Hours A's a result of a change i,n the working hours of the civil service (the Bost and Telegraph Department excepted 1 the transport services of Wellington city have been severely tested since Wednesday last. Traffic officers connected with the Tramway Department say tlial the alteration of the starting time from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.in. and the finishing time from 4.35 p.m. to 5 pan. has had a noticeable effect for the worse on the tramway services. The restriction of the peak periods, morning and evening. particularly between 7.45 a.in. and 9 a.m. and" between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. had made overcrowding worse than ever it was. Particularly was that the case oil the Karori, Hataitai, Seatoun, and Lyall Bay lines.' where the overcrowding of cars was making it uncomfortable for all concerned. _ _ A responsible officer consulted satu that the change of hours might be welcome to some, but it was the rdVerse of a convenience us regards transport, lie recalled that during the last war the city council approached the Government with a request that the hours be changed in order that the peakloading might be extended over a longer iierlod and so make it more convenient for the'trams to take the load. That was done, and much relief was afforded. Now, however, with the civil service increased 100 per cent., a change had been made back to the old hours of employment, throwing all the heavy loading io between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning, and 5 and 6 o’clock in the evening. It could not be done without causing a great deal of inconvenience to the general public. It was all very well to say "put on more cars,” but Willis Street could not carry' more curs during peak hours than it did at present. Moreover, I here were difficulties in arranging the sluff for extra cars. Another 20 men were leaving the tramway service this mouth to go into camp.