TRAMWAY LEGISLATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15272, 12 October 1911, Page 7

TRAMWAY LEGISLATION.

BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. (FBOU OUB OWH COWIESPOSDEKT.) WELLINGTON, October 11. A good deal of attention was dovotcd this ovening, wlien tiio Tramways Amendment Bill was befafe tho Houso in Committeo, to tho Government proposals regarding electric tramways.

MOTOR MEN.

SERVICE AND COMPETENCY. Tlio Amendment Act of Inst session provides that certificates of compotoncy are to bo issued only to motormen employod for not less than one year before tho passing of tlio act. Tho present bill proposed that tho period of employment should bo ono year immediately preceding tho passing of tho act-. Several members strongly objected to this proposal, and the Minister eventually agreed to striko tho clauso out altogether. LICENSE FEES. SECURED TO LOCAL AUTHORITY. \ An important amendment was secured in tho bill by Mr Masscy, Tho Committee approved of tho proposal that a licenso fee of £2 should ho charged on all tramcars in services run under deeds of delegation. Tho proposal in tho bill was that the Minister of Finance might pay over tho fees to the local authority, to whom the original authorising order was issued. Mr Mass-jy objected that tho clauso should be mandatory and not merely permissive. Tlio Hon. R. M'Kcnzio said that if nn amendment v,n;i necessary it could be mado in tho Legislative Council, but Mr Masscy .slid tlint as tho question was ono of finance tho Upper House could not amend it. lie insisted that the amendment should bo mado, and eventually the Minis, ter agreed to substitute the word "shall" for "may." DESIGN OF CARS. SAFETY OF TIIE PUBLIC. Mr Davey moral the following new clauso(1) All truincars shall be so constructed as to provide a |xi.isage-way from ono end of the car to the oilier. (2) At lonst 10 per- cent, of the existing cars (including ravs constnifcted pursuant to a contract entered into prior to tho passing of this act) which aro Jiot in compliance with this provision shall be converted annually so as to bring them in compliance therewith.

Mr Ijiiko strongly objected. The new [ elau.se would involve large expenditure ill Wellington, and would mean an increase in fares to the working man. Mr l.'itt slid the cost of altering tli>> cars would only be about £5 or £10. If it came to a question of tho dollar verbis the man it should bo the man every time. Mr Ilogau ridiculed Mr lsitt's idea of tlu! cost of conversion. In some cars t.he cost would bo neArer £50 than £5. The proposed change \>ould lie a very serious matter. Mr M'Laren also saw difTirulties in the way of tho suggested change. lie. urged that more time should be allowed. Mr Davey said even if it cost £500 to convert six cars in a year, it would lie better than one man killed. He would exempt cable cars. The private companies did not want the clause, but the peoplo wanted it Mr Fisher suppoited the amendment it would compel the mmiicipalitirs io build a n.oro suitable car. On t.1:o motion of tho Minister it was derided to exempt- cabin hank-am. Mr Hiv„'ii,i .<ud he thought tho newsfitvrv protection to conductors could be fixcxl up outside the cars. Mr Witty movoJ an amendment to action 2 of sub section 3 with n view to | permitting fdcam tram drivers who for wver.il years luive been driving iiteaiu tr.fms to obtain llw iwurairy n-rtil'icate of competency ho drive olectric tnms.— This was agreed to. Mr Witty moved a further ajriendnKiit providing ftr a f.Pp:n\>l« leviaMo within a dofinod part of a "district sufficient to rover imy arauial dellcioncy that inliv

occur in maintaining and working a tramway extension. Objection was taken to iniiknig such a proposal retrospective. Mr Merries Biiid they jsiigiit aj>ply tho principle to Inarich railways. It waa meant to meet (lie cose of L'hriskhurch, but it applied irenerally. Mr Witty eventually agreed to tho withdrawal i,f tli" aim'ndmc.nt in order to havo l.lie new c.!,.iu,<o printed, and tho retrospective portion cut out when tlw hill is recommitted. The hill was reported from Committee with amct (Invents.