CONTROL OF TRAMWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15820, 19 July 1913, Page 12

CONTROL OF TRAMWAYS.

NFAV REGULATIONS. MR ALEXANDER'S REPORT. In compliance with the instruction of the Minister of Public Works, a cony of the proposed new tramways rogulatiouu has been forwarded to the City Council. These are generally in, tho form in which they were altered at the conference held between officers of tho Government and a committee of tramway experts appointed by the tramways delegates in Juljj 1911. Tho Minister asked that these regulations should be considered and comments, suggestions, or additions forwarded to tho department in order that further amendments might bo mado before i.ho Government finally decided in what form tho regulations should be submitted to the Governor lor signature. Tho regulations were submitted to Mr C F. Alexander (tramways manager), and on Wednesday hia roport came before the Tramways Committee, when it was decided that the town clerk and the manager should confer and comnumicato with tho Minister on tho lines suggested by tho latter. Mr Alexander, suggests that objection be made to tho following clauses:— Qiauso 12, Section 2.—This section provides that if a carriage meets with a serious injury it cannot again be used until the inspector certifies that the carriage is again safe and fit for public use. It was pointed out at the conference that this would be a very serious matter for a service such as Dunedin, ,as in many instances a carriage receives serious injury, is run into tho dejxit and out again in a tew hours' time. Clause 13, section 1, Sub-section (a).—This sub-section deals with seating accommodation, and in connection with cars in use at dato of these regulations only allows for passengers to bo carried on tho scat of the conductor's platform, whereas it wes agreed upon that all permanent seats could bo used. This is borne out by cub-section (c) of clause 20 in tho now regulations, which roads as follows:—" Shall have a compartment on the platform at each end of the carriage to bo reserved for the sole use of tho motorman and conductor when the car is in motion; but as regards eais in existence at the date of theso regulations, this shall not operate to prevent passengers travelling on any seats permanently provided on tho platform of such cars for the use of pacsetigeio." Clause 13, Section 2.—This clause dea's with the additions, number of passengers that can be carried in excecs of the searing capacity, and states that authority shall not be given for the camaffc of standing passengers unless they can bo so carried without unduly inconveniencing other passengers or without impeding the driver or conductor. This clause as it stands would lead to considerable friction and trouble.

Clauso 13, Section I.—this clauso deals witli the maximum number of parecn-gcrs carried, and states that a child under three years, in arms, shall not be counted as a passenger, and that a chiid over thrco and under 12 shall be counted as half a passenger, and any norcon ever the ago of 12 shall be counted as a passenger. As in this service we carry all children under fivo free, and children under 14 at half fare, the ages three and 12 of the new regulations should bo deleted, and substituted by tho ago; five and 14.

Clause 16 gives the Minister the right to refuse to grant a license for the carriago of any standing passengers without having (o give any reason for such refusal. This clause should also be strongly opposed.

In regard to a number of other clauses, Mr Alexander 6ays:—" I would respectfully point out to the committee that tho regulations dealing with the carriage of passengers are more important to Dunedin than to either of the thrco other centres, as comparative.'}' the seating capacity of our cars is of a most limited nature. For example. 14 of our care have a seating capacity of only 26. Tho cost of running these cars per car mile is practically the same as the cost of running a car having a seating capacity of 56; therefore if cars wero limited

to their seating capacity, in comparison with the other centres, our cc6t for every car mile run would be the same, but our earning capacity wou'd be considerably Iris. In a small city, such as Dunedin, where the seating capacity of the ears is comparatively very small, and where the majority of trips are run at a loss, it is, in my opinion, absolutely necessary for us to havo the right to carry a fair percentage over our seating capacity, otherwise it is impossible- far the system to be self-supporting.

" Any regulation that interferes with our carrying capacity, which is our earning power, is a most serious matter for Dunedin, owing to the following reasons:—(l) Excessive capital expenditure for size of system; (2) the limited average seating capacity of our cars; (3) the impracticability of putting on larger cars, unless a huge expense is incurred; (4) the number of nonpaying Irips which are run outside crush hours; (5) tho large concessions granted in fares; (6) the best-paying district* being served by the other three systems.

"In the interests of the serviee, which, ol

course, arc tho interests of the Dunedin citizens, the above reasons must lv>, carefully considered when dealing with the question of the carrying capacity of our cars."