DUNEDIN TRAM TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 18375, 8 September 1923, Page 2

DUNEDIN TRAM TRAFFIC

CONGESTION AT STOCK EXCHANGE THE OFFICIAL POINT OF VIEW. An answer is made by Mr W. H. Mackenzie, tramways manager, to tho suggestion made Ly a citizen in Ihursday s f star ’ to tho effect that the congestion (of traffic at Ibiusy hours in the vicinity ol the Stock Exchange could be overcome to a great extent it south-bound) trams using tho balloon loop picked up their passengers on tiro south side of the loop, and the loop were used by all _ trams starting south, with tho exception of those coming from the north end. Asked to make a statement on the subject, Mr Mackenzie said: “From a layman’s point of view there may be sometiling in these suggestions; from our point' of view they are ridiculous. Some time ago wc rearranged l the whole of the starting places in order to do away with the

congestion ns far os possible. I say ‘as far as possible ’ because there always must bo a cor tain amount of congestion with tho number of cars we have running. But I may jroint out tint the principal reason of the increased congestion is tlm increase in the number of motor oars. The tram traffic, though growing, is not suddenly rushed up to such an extent. What wo did was to dastrilbuto the loading points as far as wo could. There are now' live different places in tho vicinity of the Stock Exchange at which passengers may hoard the cars. To make tho balloon loop a starting point is a proposition that is quite impructiculble. It can never ho a starling point. All concerned with the working of the trams fully understand that. For one reason, the passengers as a body would) not assemble so far away. The early birds might walk thither—those who had just missed a tram—but the mass of the people would not, I am satisfied that the present arrangement is the best that can he made for the present, and it cannot be departed from. This decision is quite final as embodying the (belief of those of us who have studied the intricacies of the question.” ,