TRAMS IN THE SQUARE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1066, 12 July 1917, Page 2

TRAMS IN THE SQUARE.

PROPOSAL TO ALTER LAY-OUT. CONFERENCE DISCUSSES VARIOUS ASPECTS. The Christchurch Tramway Board's proposal to shift the eastern j track in Cathedral Square from its • present position, to within a, few \ feet of the footpath in front of the ; Cathedral was the subject of a con- ! ference yesterday afternoon between representatives of the board, the | City Council and the Beautifying: Association. The conference took place at the City Council Chambers, and those present included the Mavor and Councillors P. R. Climie, A. A. Mc-' Kellar, J. W. Reanland and O. G. j Sullivan, Messrs H. B. Smith (Town ClerkL and A. D. Dobson (City Surveyor), representing the City | Council. A. Kaye. S. Hurst Seager, i G. L. Donaldson, representing the | Beautifying Society, and C. M. Gray, i J. A. Flesher, F. Thompson (General j Manager), and F. Turner (Engineer), j representing the Tramway Board. The Mayor, who presided, referred to the previous conference on the Beautifying Association's scheme, i and said that his personal view was that it would be a mistake to shift; the track and discharge all tramway j passengers by south-bound cars on to the footpath in front of the i Cathedral. \ At the request of Mr Gray, the Town Clerk read a letter dated j June 20, in which the Tramway \ Board criticised the Beautifying Association's proposals, and gave details of the board's proposal to shift j the eastern track. THE TRAMWAY SHELTER. Mr Kaye said that Beautifying Society was actuated by Ihe best of feelings towards the Tramway ■ Board, and did not wish to hamper it in its work. The present trarn■wav shelter, however, was an in- : suit to the pioneer who had laid out \ this eitv. Mr John Robert God ley, and detracted from the annearance of the j Square. In such matters they should consider other than merely utilitarian consideration*. He saw no j reason whv the original proposal of; the Bcautifvinc Association to ilivide the sheltc in front of the j statue ro::M ml b" '-everted to. The ' sssocia'ion was "- n ling to bear half the cost tip to £SOO. DANGEROUS TO PEDESTRIANS. Mr D. G. Sullivan said that thev were all agreed with Mr Kaye in his deprecation of the present shelter covering up the Godlev statue. Fie realised that if was impossible at present to carry out the Beaotifving Association's scheme, and thev should concentrate for the moment on the board's proposal to alter the lay out by shifting the eastern track. He was convinced thai the board was making a mistake in pullina forward that proposal, and that it would if carried out enormously intensify traffic difficulties in the square. People would still continue to use the present shelter, esoeciallv in wet weather, and the result would be that they would cross the road to catch south-hound cars. The risks of accident would be very much intensified. He thought the board while going ahead with its work sbmdd leave the lay out as at present. A POPULAR INSTITUTION. Mr C. M. Cray, chairman of the Tramways Board, said that it was not the boards business to beautify Cathedral Square, but to run the trams. The present tramway shelter was the most ponular inslilution in the city, and very many people had expressed their appreciation of it. The Beautifying Association had no richt to ask the Tramwavs Board to spend £12.000 of fhe ratepayers money in beautifying the Square in accordance with their ideas. The Mayor said that the scheme did not call for such an expenditure. Mr Hurst Seagrr said that the cost of altering the shelter would be onlv some £2500. Messrs (irav and Flesher explained that the alterations to the shelter involved alterations to the track that would cost that amount, and more at present prices. Mr Gray said that the expenditure would be in the best interests of the public and passengers by south bound cars would no! then need to stand in the centre of the roadway awaiting them. Mr J. W. Beanland said that hedid not want to see anything done that would prevent ?he new points at Broadwav's and Ihe Bank of NewZealand corners beine installed. He did not see whv the present lav-out cotdd not be made \n accord with the Beniitifvjpi? Association's scheme. Mr Fh-she- said that the present lav-out wo"|»l not accord with that scheme. There would have to be an entire alteration of the track. Mr Hurst Scaßer «ai«l that realising. that this w-.-s not the time for under-' taking anvthint? hut essential expenditure, thev were merclv asking that ■ nothing be done to prevent the future carrving out of the Reautifving Association's scheme. The speaker re-! plied to objections that had been put j forward acainst the association's! scheme. He affreed with Mr Sullivan that shifting the eastern track would' enorniouslv increase the dancer to pedestrians. They should insist that' the tracks be not disturbed. Mr A. McKellar strongly opposed, the shifting of the ra'ls, also the proposal to duplicate Ihe lines in thej north-east corner of the Sana re. BOARD'S PROPOSAL DEFENDED. Mr J. A. Fleshe'- snoke at some length in defence of ihe Tramwavs Board's proposal to shift the track. There was. he said, too much criti-j c'sm and not enwsdi constructive! ability. There would b< scions ac-i cidents some day if the existing lav-] o:.:l was continued. Whether the line v.as shifted or not. they must, expend Ihe £'sooo, and that expend!- j ti-'c would in no way help the Beauf'fving Association's scheme. The bop<-d had had no dcla'ds concerning Mr Kave\ proposal to divide the present shelter. In rcplv to the Mavor, Mr Flesher s: id Burt Ihe Ijo.-.rd was prenar. d lo c n -id: r Ihe j.r-.;;•-;.!. if submitted lo it. Mr P. B. Climie said that he rnv.}'\ S-- • lb'- hoard's poird of view. ll wanted »•< save Ihe wear and tear on [he points occasioned b\ Iheswing-! i'-'* of Ihe cars westwards and eastv -'s in the Square. If was a ?-i!v tl ■'.'[ thev could not have rend the rej--; t on the proposal prei ared by the r -> • p; "V ins'i'-clor. He was recti ' ■'■ ( r notion thai the sh : r , !n« of t! track v ■■..■' i increas» the '.■--.• 'S of trallic and suggc.ilcd Lial an

"island" or raised platform he erected so that people would not have to wait in the roadway. The chairman said he hoped that the board would give up the idea of shifting the line. There were many objections to tiie project. I)r Chilton also voiced an objection to the shifting of the track.' They were not hostile to the Tramwavs Board. Mr Kaye said it was regrettable that they had a man like Mr Gray! as chairman of the Tramways Board, j He blocked every proposal for progress. Mr Flesher resented Mr Kayc's remarks as uncalled for. On the motion of Mr Gray, a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman, M« Gray expressing the hope that the City Council would take no notice of Mr Kaye's remarks. He intended himself to lake no notice of them. The motion was carried. OPINIONS OF MOTORISTS. AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION'S ATTITUDE. At last night's meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association, Mr P. B. Climic brought up the matter of the proposed alteration of the layout of the tramlines in Cathedral Square, and suggested that the association should give some expression of opinion in the matter. Mr Climie outlined the details ofi the scheme, and said that it was a matter which very much concerned the association. The Tramways Board wanted to enclose the channel that was now free to vehicular Irafiic. The motor inspector (Mr H. Mcintosh) had reported very adversely to the proposal. The scheme, would have the effect of making that portion of the' Square far more dangerous to pedestrians than it was at the present time, while it would also interfere to a very considerable extent with vehicular traffic. He thought motorists should express an opinion from their point of view. Personally, he was dead against it, as it would create an extreme public danger. That part of the-- Square was dangerous enough now; On wet | days people would continue to use the tram shelter, and when the south-bound cars came in, there would be a scurry across that spare. That was where the danger came in. Messrs F. I). Kesfeven and W. J. McMillan expressed the view thai the proposal was a dangerous proceeding. Mr Climic went on to say that the City Council had very little power in the mailer. What had led up to Ihe proposal was the fact that the tramway points at the Bank of New Zealand corner, and at Broadway's coiner were just about worn out, and the Tramway Board was faced with an expenditure of something like £'sooo on new points. Under the •iresent arrangement the trams had to swing round into the Square, and this brought about a very considerable wear on the points. From the board's point of view, if the trams were run straight into the Square, that difficulty would be overcome to a very large extent. The president (Mr A. S. Clarkson) suggested that the matter should be referred to the Roads Committee. Mr P. R. Climie moved: "That this association is strongly opposed to the present scheme-of the Tramway Hoard, and considers that the -tramlines should remain parallel righ' through the Square." This was carried. Mr Climie then referred to th" proposal of the Tramway Board to duplicate that portion of the track in Cathedral Square by Warner's Hotel. He pointed out that this was a very dangerous corner even at present. Mr F. \V. Johnston agreed with this. The paramount bodv in con trol of the highways should be the City Council. All schemes involvinr the tearing-up of streets, etc., should f'st be approved bv the City Council. The discussion then closed.