TRAMWAY REGULATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 14628, 26 July 1911, Page 4

TRAMWAY REGULATIONS.

THE MINISTER. ANGRY. [.Per United Pkess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 26. The tact displayed by Mr U. T. Booth, chairman of the Christelmreh Tramway Board, seems to have saved the deputation who waited on the Hon. It. M'Kenzie in Wellington yesterday regarding the tramway regulations from being resultless. The Minister of Works was very angry when Mr .). Smith, deputy mayor of Wellington, introduced the deputation. The Minister declared that the action of the Wellington authorities in making public the regulations was discreditable. Mr Smith took this personally and protested. Mr M'Kenzie said no one e!.-e considered it his duty to make public a confidential document, and finally said to Mr Smith: "You had better be quite civil or I'll order you out of the room." Mr Booth here intervened, and said some of the delegates considered the rebuke was merited. Having soothed the Minister by this admission, Mr Booth laid before him the views of the deputation. He suggested that the department might confer with the tramway authorities regarding the regulations, and emphasised the varying nature of the local conditions. He proposed that the department shoald issue recommendations, which could be tested for a year before, becoming binding. Mr M'Kenzie said the Government had to carry out the law. The regulations had not yet been dealt with by Cabinet, but were submitted to the local authorities for suggestions. He thought a conference with experts might be held regarding technicalities. Mr Bosth remarked that the word "technical" ought to bo liberally interpreted. Both the convenience and safety of the public had to bo considered. Mr M'Kenzie promised to ask Cabinet to authorise a, conference with tramway engineers.