The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1911. CONTROL OF TRAMWAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7852, 14 July 1911, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1911. CONTROL OF TRAMWAYS

The first opinions most people will come to regarding the proposed, tramway, regulations are that some of them are exceedingly foolish, and that they have been launched upon the local bodies in a tactless, provocative way. It is probable, we think, too, that a not inconsiderable number of .people will arrive a*t the conclusion that some of the criticism the regulations have jirovokcd is also foolish. That tho Wellington City Council is acting rightly in protesting against these regulations and in seeking the cooperation of other local bodies concerned can hardly be doubted. Certainly, the undesirable features in the departmental proposals greatly outweigh those that are reasonable and calculated to afford long-suffering citizens some relief from what so often makes tho tramcars places of discomfort and danger. So far as we are aware the Public Works Department already possessed ample powers to protect tho public against danger from mechanical defects in any tramway service. Tho plans have had to pass the department, the equipment has had .to receive approval, and running speeds to be sanctioned. Not satisfied with that, however, the department now seems to wish for control , over the minutae of management. In this it is making a grave mistake for, so far as we are able to see, there is no possible justification for such A step. All of these proposals about the formation of queues, the provision of steps, lamps, gongs and bells, the destination lettering, the structural alteration of cars already in use, and so on, are merely an irritating interference with details that should be left to the discretion of the managing body. The Minister might just os reasonably want to meddle with the tickets and conductors’ clips. Tho net result of foreshadowing this mass of tinkering interference Iras been to i make the regulations as a whole utterly obnoxious, whereas in part they ought to have been in force long ago. Our reference here is to overcrowding. We do not believe that any resident e£ Wellington is prepared to argue in defence of what takes place daily on the tramway service in this city. The manner in which oars j are overcrowded is a positive scandal, and if, as seems probable, the' City Council has got itself into the ■ position that it is only able to make the service pay by imposing a maxi- \ mum of discomfort upon the citizens, the sooner it overhauls its schedule of. fares and provides rolling-stock adequate for the traffic the better for its I reputation. Tins question the' Council knows to .be one of burning importance, yet has shirked its plain duty year after year. Tho Council has brought interference on this point i upon itself, and richly deserves it. We| hope to see the local bodies resist thej Minister’s attempts to meddle with i details of car-running which their, offi-| cers can control as well as anyone, else, and would urge them on, to fight, J but we also hope that tho Minister [ will stand to one of his guns and force | the municipality to put an end to the, disgraceful overcrowding now sanctioned.