MOTORISTS AND TRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1930, Page 11

MOTORISTS AND TRAMS

CORNER OF EGMONT STREET STOPPING PLACE OR TERMINUS? MAGISTRATE ASKED TO DECIDE.' / > • • t . — Is ; t merely a stopping place-’’' for trams-or a terminus? Applied to the corner of Devon and Egmont Street, .that question is to be determined by Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. \ ''Che .contention that it is a terminus was made yesterday when George T. Champion- was charged in ‘ terms of section 1,1 (7) of the Motor Vehicles regulations that “being the driver of a motor-ear in Devon Street he drove past the extreme rear of a tram making in the.-same direction which was discharging or embarking passengers at an indicated stopping place other than a stopping place where a. safety zone was. interposed between the tram and motor car.” . ' . i Instructed by tlie Taranaki Automobile Association, Mr. R. J. Brokenshhe said he appeared to defend the charge and to ask for a ruling in order to clear the confusion on the point in the minds of motorists.

The position as explained by a police witness was that Champion had passed a stationary tram-car that had come from the direction of. Fitzroy. \ The magistrate reserved his decision. Counsel said the question was whether regulation H (7) applied to this stopping place. There was some confusion on the point whether the place was a terminus at which 1 trams could be passed, with safety. It was submitted that the regulation applied only to indicated stopping places on the road and that this was a terminus and not a stopping place. It was urged that the original borough by-law 351 made'-an exception of trams standing at termini when it said, “When driving a car in the rear of a tram not standing at a terminus,” etc. The regulation itself referred to trams “making in a direction.” At this point, however, it was submitted the trams had cither finished or were about to stare a journey. If it were a terminus it would mean -a, serious obstruction to traffic if motorists were to be prohibited from passing stationary trams. One never heard of them being prosecuted for passing stationary trams at the Waiwakaiho, Breakwater, or Westown termini. The regulation-was not designed to stop traffic of that nature, but it was intended to apply solely to those places at which trams stopped - for few; moments to let down or pick up passengers. • In answer to the magistrate Mr. Brokenshire said the, regulation did 1 not apply if the road were clear at termini. At Waiwakailio and " Westown, ’where there was room,.cars could pass on either side of a train. ■ ’

Regarding his -submission • that thecorner was a terminus, counsel pointed out that •it ; was" a( place at. which the conductors left:their trams,if they wanted to. Trains finished their journey there and commenced.a new one and they stopped longer at that "point, than was usual at an ordinary stopping placol The sign said “Breakwater.trams leave here,” not “stop here.” • The signs .for the Westown and Fitzroy, trams were’: worded similarly. Then the time-table showed the Egmont- Street corner as a place of departure. Another thing shown by the time-table was that the-shortest period between a tram’s departure from Fitzroy and arrival at Egmont Street was 11 minutes. .Most of the trips tools 13 minutes, so that the cars had to wait two minutes at Egmont Street. ■ Othev trips took 15, 17 and 18 minutes, involving waits at Egmont Street of tour, six and seven minutes respectively. : “I submit ■it is not necessary for a tram to wait seven minutes to take up or’ set down / passengers,” said . Mr. Brokenshire.’’ He further contended that the tramwaymen at Egmont Street frequently signalled motorists to pass there. There ■ was no regulation empowering them to do tins and if the corner were a stopping, place only they were really, aiding in the commission of an offence. “I: say the tramway men have come to the conclusion that this is not an ordinary stopping place,”, commented counsel. He pointed out that it was nOt possible to purchase a cash ticket that would take, a passenger over all the sections from Fitzroy to the • Breakwater. It was necessary to purchase two..