OVERCROWDING TRAMCARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12608, 24 June 1904, Page 3

OVERCROWDING TRAMCARS.

MODIFICATION OP BY-EM? ASKED. I' '' ~~ ! ' ' ' - THE COMPANY'S POSITION. ■The position of the Ait. iJct* Electric Tramways Company with regard to the overcrowding of tramcars was placed before the City Council at last nigfofc's meeting in. a communication from Mjf. M. F. Carey (act-ing-manager of the company). This -asked that the by-law in reference to this matter should be amended so as to enable, the company to satisfactorily carry its out. ■ The company admitted that the bv-law had been technically broken by overcrowding, but the prevention of this was well nigh practically impossible. The overcrowding was not wil- : ful '' on the ■ company' - part. The by-law," iS was presumed, had been copied from the English regulations relative to horse traction,' but now throughout Europe and the United States this bylaw- had either been abolished' entirely or modified in such a wav as to permit- overcrowding, so that .facilities might be given to as many of the "travelling' public as.possible. Such facilities were not allowed by the City Council during rush traffic hours ; while the present ; by-law against overcrowding remained in force. '& It was not so much a matter of extra, cars as : for* the public to distribute themselves in,accordance with the schedule of cars or, time-table approved, by the' Council. The 21 fines ini flicted upon the company;; had reference Jto curs running between five and half-past five p.m. It hod often been noticed . between the hours mentioned that one 'or ,two 'cars were crowded to some extent, ; whilst the following j;wo or three cars traveling over the same line were not half filled. The company had at present 12 new cars on order, and until .these . were running theV Council was asked to suspend the present by-law be tween five and half-past six p.m. for a limited time of, say, 12 months, or else to modify the by-law in away that would allow the company to,' carry a certain number of passengers above the ! salting<■' capacity, which, was (usually allowed in most, . cities. The letter concluded: "If the Council cannot see their way clear to grant such concession, we fee*, obliged to appeal to themlfor some protection, sueh, for instance, eke the 'summoning of . passengers by the* Council for breaking the pounoil's by-law." The letter.was referred to Mi • Finance « .■■ Legal Committee. JJJ! , LL=S ■