THE TRAMS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 93, 19 April 1916, Page 8

THE TRAMS

DEALING WITH OVERCROWDING DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME. Several matters of interest to tram travellers were brought forward at the City Council meeting last evening. The Tramways Committee recommended that the Hataitai Municipal Electors' Association be informed, in reply to its resolution complaining of the overcrowding ot the tramcars on the tram route in that district, that v the council is doing the very best that can be done with the present plant available. Councillor R. A. Wright said _that the report, as far as it went, was very satisfactory, but at certain times all the trams were overcrowded. He was .not blaming the Tramways Committee, but was it not possible to get more rolling stock ? The trouble did not only apply to Hataitai, but to all suburban trams. Councillor L. M'Kenzie said it was futile to talk in such a manner at this time, as the British Government had forbidden the export of iron. As the Mayor had stated, time after time, the council could not get the rolling stock. Councillor G. Frost said there was no reason for complaint. The management of the tramways was very good. Councillor J. Hutcheson said it was marvellous the amount of work the General Manager carried out with the' cars at his disposal. An appeal had been made for economy, from His Majesty tho King downwards, and the insuperable bar to getting more rolling stock was the prohibition of all kinds of iron. Every councillor ought to become a propagandist to counsel forbearance on the part of the general public if everything connected with the council was not perfectly satisfactory. - The City Engineer said it was surprising to him'that the people of the city did not understand the position. They could not get out tramway material from Home, and moreover he would be short of labour-'if greater stress were put upon 'the1 system. Personally, ho had seen the cars that evening, .and found the loading was most even. Hataitai had less to complain of t-haji any other locality to which trams were despatched ;at the busy hours that evening. The whole point was that until they got more power it would not be .'expedient-to greatly increase ■ their rolling stock. The necessity for another generator was most urgent, and.ho was obtaining-information as to another generator" to "place '.before the council. The" Wellington tramways system was no exception ii\ tho difficulty it was .meeting with in obtaining further equipment and supplies. •■The Mayor stated- that the: engineer had -been conferring with him regarding the generator,";but it was -impossible "to gejb the machinery. '_ :He:;thoii;ght they ■were doing -very well-with the number .of cars available. . . ... ' -A request by a citizen that holders of concession tickets be entitled to transfer to different routes was not^ conceded, as the granting of this privilege ' would necessitate the issue of a very complicated ticket system,, anrl would probably lead, to a.great-deal of abuse. ■;The Mayor.explained, that transfers were convenient in America, where the five cent rate prevailed, but the system would not do. here. . ... Councillor Fuller suggested .tickets that could be used to meet,the case. The Mayor said he would be glad to see Councillor Fuller on the matter.