REGULATION OF TRAMWAY TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12269, 13 May 1903, Page 7

REGULATION OF TRAMWAY TRAFFIC.

THE OVERCROWDING QUESTION.

THIRTEEN CONDUCTORS FINED.

Thirteen of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company's conductors were yesterday charged at the Police Court (Mr. H. W. Brabant, S.M., presiding), on the information of Mr. Turner, traffic inspector, with breaches of tho city by-law prohibiting the overcrowding of tramears. Mr. J. C. Martin appeared for the defendants, and, at his request, all the cases were taken together. A plea of guilty was entered in each case, and a conviction recorded.

Speaking in mitigation of penalty, Mr. Martin said that the Tramways Company were glad these proceedings had been taken, because, for one thing, it would bring the question before the public, and for another, it might induce the various municipal bodies to pass certain by-laws to deal with the tramway traffic. The position was that the Auckland electric traction of 1903. was obliged to be run under an antiquated by-law, made in 1867, before such traction was ever thought of, and the difficulties of running the trams now were almost insuperable. The informations in the whole of these cases alluded to the period between five o'clock and six o'clock in the evening. Do what tno officials of the company might, it was perfectly impossible to control the rush of people during that hour. It was not for want of accommodation, because whilst by the terms under which the company ran the cars, they were obliged to run 29 an hour, they actually ran 35 cars an hour, speaking only of Queen-street, in the , endeavour to cope with the heavy traffic between five and six o'clock. If they had all the cat? in the universe stored in Auckland it would not be safe to put on a greater number. If the public would only be satisfied to wait a few minutes, and take the next car when one was overcrowded, all could lie accommodated. But the public would not wait; they all rushed the first car coming, and the result was that some cars were so crowded that there was not. even standing room, and* others went un Welles-ley-streot no more than two-thirds full. Again, the company's conductors had no time, owing to their other duties, to eject passengers who had no right to be there, and supposing they stopped the car, and tried to induce passengers to get off, the whole traffic behind would be stopped. Mr. Hansen had, on behalf of the Tramways Company, tried to get police assistance in regulating the traffic on the cars, even offering to pay for same, but he had been unsuccessful. The company had done all they possibly could to control this evening traffic. Auckland was not alone in respect of the rush at certain hours. It was the same in other countries, where the effort to stop overcrowding had been abandoned as futile. It was no advantage to the Tramways Company to overcrowd, since they had reason to believe they thus lost several fares through passengers evading the conductors in the crowd. It was hoped that now the matter had been brought before the Court the public would consent tc. act as reasonable bodies, and that the City Council would give the company something better to work on than the ancient by-law at present in force. Possibly the Council could see their way to authorise their traffic officials to interfere, and put people off the cars in cases of overcrowding. His Worship remarked that it seemed to him, from what Mr. Martin had stated, that the matter was more properly one for the consideration of the city authorities than a magistrate, who was bound to enforce the by-laws.

Mr. Martin said His Worship must, of course, convict, but whether he imposed a penalty or not was another question. 4.1. * li Trner ' traffic inspector, contended that there was no necessity for cars to stop at every stopping-place when full, whilst as to the time-table he considered a car could be run every minute. Some conductors kept their cars clear and some did not. it one could do so others could. Also the company could put on two men, one to collect fares and the other to prevent overcrowding. ; 0 His Worship: You do not admit that it ls ,V mpSSlWe to Prevent overcrowding? Mr. Timer: No. It is very difficult to do so, but the company could do it if tliej went the proper way about it Evidence in support of Mr, Martin's aifffi* ments was given by Messrs. ]?. M. Hanson j (attorney), and A. F. Carey (electrical en gineer), of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, both of whom spoke of the rushing tacttos of the public at certain hours. His Worship said he was afraid this was a matter he could not settle satisfactorily. he Tramways Company said (and there appeared to be something in their contention) that they could not prevent overcrowding, and on the other hand .the city representative said that they could if they went the. proper way about it. Ho (His Worship) could not ignore what Mr. Turnei said, but it seemed to him to be more & question for the City Council to decide. If the Council sent their offioet there to the Court to com plain that their by-laws were not kept by the Tramways Company, it was his (His Worships) duty to support that officer in enforcing the by-laws. He was not satis-, fied that it was impossible to keep the pub-' bo out of the cars, though he was quite satisfied it was very difficult to do so, but he thought Mr. Turner was right in hit contention that the company could prevem overcrowding if they went th proper waj about it. He would in each case inflict a fine of ss, without costs. His Worship further remarked that he hoped the City Council would give the matter their consideration and devise some moans Of remedying it. Mr. Martin said that whatever the Cnunoil arranged the company would meet them in the matter.

REFUSING TO CARRY PASSENGERS. A motorman in the employ of the Tramways Company named Albert Perkins was then charged, on the # traffic inspector's information, with refusing to cany a passenger. Mr. Martin appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. Martin said that the facts were admitted, namely, that the defendant was driving a car along POnsonby Road, was hailed at Franklin Road by two gentlemen, and that he failed to stop to take them up. The reason of defendant's action wad that he was late, and according to a regulation of the company it was incumbent upon him to run right through so as to keep the traffic properly regulated, so long as another car waft coming right behind. In this case there were two cars following defendant's as closely as Was safe. His Worship asked whothe' the regulations of the Tramways Company wens assented to by the Council. Mr. Martin said not in the case of this particular regulation, which wan as between the company and their employees. Mr. Turner said that every day the public were complaining that motormen would not stop their cars to take fthem up. A tramcar was a borough stage carriage, and as such was bound to carry passengers if there was room. His Worship: You say they have no right to rcfuso passengers although the car is late t Mr. Turner: Just so, Your Worship. His Worship said that in this case, like the previous one, the by-law had been broken •■and he must enforce it. Of course from one point of view it was reasonable, if a car was late, that it should run right on, but still there was a by-law in force saying cars must stop if a passenger required it to do so. He would impose a fine of 5s and costs.