WELLINGTON TRAMS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 270, 13 August 1942, Page 4

WELLINGTON TRAMS

Overcrowding Discussed By City Council

Overcrowding on Wellington trams was mentioned by Cr. -Bowden when the report of the tramways committee was before the city council last night. "I regret no mention is made in the report of any improvement in the service,” said Cr. Bowden. "The sight of trams passing people without stopping when waiting at tram stops is causing much dissatisfaction. I don’t blame the operators; .1 don’t say that the trams aren’t full. The restrictions on petrol and tyres will take inore and more cars oft the roads in the next few months; the transport zoning officer has made that clear. That will mean a serious position if the present plant has to continue for another three years. The cessation of parcel deliveries will also tend to increase the congestion in the cars.” ' Cr. Bowden asked if the tramways committee had been doing anything toward obtaining more cars. He suggested that trailers might be possible on some of the routes, such as Newtown, Island Bay and Oriental Bay. Braking systems had improved greatly since the Order-in-Council prohibited trailers 30 years ago. Cr. Bowden moved that the committee’s report be referred back, but his motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

The mayor, Mr. Hislop, said that the (question of additional cars or trailers had been considered between the tramway management and himself, but had not reached the stage of going before the. committee. He pointed out that the publie, when it. had been using its own forms of transport for many years and then found it could not continue to do so, couldn’t expect the council to provide at a moment's notice service which would be used only just as long as the public felt it necessary.

Cr. Appleton. eaid that congestion at peak hours occurred in any city in the world, even in normal times. He felt the public had been well served. Cr. Macalister asked if there were not some trams nearly completed in the building shops, only awaiting a few additional parts. Could not something be done to get those parts, he asked.

The mayor said that there were some cars in that state. It was extremely difficult to get steel imports. He had already experienced that in connexion with steel for the Evans Bay power-house. However, an attempt would be made to obtain the parts, and he would do his utmost to assist.