TRAMWAY DOINGS

Southland Times, Issue 17004, 30 March 1912, Page 6

TRAMWAY DOINGS

NOTES ON THE NEW SYSTEM. The man who stands for the major portion of the day on the street corner will always find something to grumble at when he looks for it. but there has been surprisingly little itdver.se comment on flic running of the now tramway service. There are some little matters, however, which require, the attention of the Corporation, ami the authorities must not mind suggestions, however, foolish or trivial they might he, being thrown at them. There is for one. The matter of destination signals. The Tramway Engineer’s idea of boards on which are plainly painted the names of the various termini, is a good one and answers very well in the day-time; but’it must be admitted that they are not a great success at night. The chief reason is that the electric lamps which throws the light on to the name is too strong for the purpose, as it throws a shimmer over the board so that the name is scarcely distinguishable. There i-s no doubt that with only two routes operating just now, the signals are to ail intents and purposes sufficiently plain, hut when there are five or six different names to be distinguished, some other system will have to be adopted. The suggestion lias boon made that the Corporation should adopt the . Christchurch idea of having route numbers placed on the tops of the car. There can be no mistaking a number, but names can easily he confused. Next Monday evening the Council will hold a special meeting to consider the proposal of the Olatara Proprietary that an electric tramway should be built to Otatjara head; along the route the Company suggests. The result of the deliberations will he watched with interest, as it is generally conceded that Invercargill, urgently needs a seaside breathing space, and the discussion on the subject should lead to proposals for the establishment of such a resort. —Tramway Receipts.— The following arc the takings on the Municipal tramways to date:—: £ s. d. Tuesday .. .. 54 IT 7 Wednesday . . . . 4 7 5 1 Thursday ' .. 33 5 9 The conductors will have the assistance of ail people who appreciate the value of order and system in their efforts to persuade travellers in thq trams to adopt, convenient practices. For instance the rule that all people, entering a tram 'should, .use the rear door wiille all passengers leaving •it should make their exit- by the front door is- an admirable one. It obviates •all-confusion. There is no clash-of two streamsof people -moving in : opposite directions, there is no hustle and confusion., If half thp people in a ear make for each door anil at each door a crowd is endeavouring to entfer .the car quite unnecessary unpleasantness follows. A -little firmness on the-part of the conductors and a little Intelligence on the part of tramway users will obtain faithful observance for (lie rule, and people will enter a car by, the rear door and leave it l)y the front door as a. inn iter' of co.ur.se in a few weeks’ time. It is necessary; at the outset, however,’ to enforce the' rule firmly. ■ The expedience of the last few days has proved the necessity for extending the lighting system. Before very long the Council will lipd it ' necessary to provide adequate lighting at stopping places and to Improve the roads at these places so that passengers entering or alighting from the cars may find a decent fooling. At the present tim.o there are large pools of water at many of the stopping places on a wet night. Furthermore, most of the slop-ring (Races arc in darkness, and people waiting for the trams have to grope their way into the road and then (hoy arc by no means sure that the conductor . or the motonnan will see them in time. It i«. of course, most unreasonable to expect a perfect tramway system to spring into, existence in a day. and the matters now being brough l under notice will doubtless receive the Council's attention at an early, ditto. By degrees the convenience of the system will he increased and the reasonable comfort of tlie people will Ite provided for. There is a good deal of comment among users of the Iranis witli reference to the inadequacy of the straps which are intended to bar entrance or exit on the "blind" side of the ears, it is absolutely necessary to safety that the side of the cars nearest the poles should not be used and at present the opening is barred with a simple strap. It is quite a common thing, however, to sec boys “duck” under the strap cither into or out, of a ear. Some day one of them will meet a pole when lie dives out of (lie car on Ihe wrong side or collide with Die car on the oilier trade and it wilt not ho the pole or the car that suffers. Another strap between the one in use and the step would effectively prevent anyone from using the "blind” olds, and in Ihe interests of safety the authorities might consider the question of making the guard more effective.