PEAK LOADING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 11

PEAK LOADING

TRAMWAY PROBLEM A FURTHER CONFERENCE "STAGGERING" OF HOURS Representatives of commercial and other interests assured the Auckland Transport Board at a conference yesterday that further efforts would be made to find means of reducing peakload traffic on the trams bv "staggering" hours of work, although the difficulty of doing so was emphasised. The board called a similar conference a month ago and the discussion was then adjourned in order that the representatives present might have time to make inquiries and bring forward recommendations. Subsequently it was arranged that public servants to the number of about 2000 should begin work an hour earlier and leave their offices at 4..30 p.m. The assembly hour at the Seddon Memorial Technical College was altered from 9 a.m. to 9.15 a.m. in order to relieve the morning peak load. An English Example The chairman of the Transport Board, Mr. W. H. Nagle, who presided yesterday, said the boaid had been greatly helped by the recent changes. It was not asking for big tilings, but only for such assistance as individual sections of the community could give. As an example of the statu that might develop in an industrial- city if no remedy were applied, Mr. Nagle said that in Birmingham 80 per cent of the municipal transport fleet was idle except in rush hours. Recently 1565 vehicles were used in peak-periods and only 290 during the rest of the day. Since the beginning of the wai 700 women had replaced men on trams and buses and the number was likely to reach JOOO. It was not beyond possibility that the same manpower problem would arise in New Zealand. Mr F. N. Ambler, representing the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, said that starting-times in factories were normally early. A change would interfere considerably with the meal arrangements of families containing several workers. Help from Postal Department The president ■of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. X. B. Spencer, said the chamber represented a number of different interests and lie could not express aiiy opinion on its behalf. As one concerned in bus transport, he would point out that no "staggering" of hours would benefit long-dlstanco bus services unless it were wide enough to allow a vehicle to make two rush-hour trips instead of only one, as at present. ; > . •, , . The chief postmaster at Auckland. Mr. B- G. May, said that clerical workers formed only a small section of the postal and telegraphic staffs. Emplovees in the mail room were kept very busy in the late afternoon and eariy evening in handling the rush of postings around five o'clock. However, an effort would be made to release as many people as possible at 4.30 p.m. during the summer months, with a possible extension into next Avinter. Mr. Nagle remarked tliat petrol restrictions had intensified the board's problems, and other difficulties mio-ht arise when they were relaxed. The board was trying to keep its services on an even keel without placing a burden upon the ratepayers, and one of its vital needs was more elasticity in the industrial awards to which it was subject. A vote of thanks to the board for the consideration it had shown for the public interest was carried on the motion of Mr. Ambler.