TRACTION ENGINES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5014, 28 July 1894, Page 5

TRACTION ENGINES.

Meeting of Owners. A meeting of owners of traction engines was held at the offices of Messrs Mataon and Co. this morning, to consider what action Bhould be taken in consequence of the recent decision of the Supreme Court that each engine when travelling should lie accompanied by two men specially to warn and assist riders and drivers of horses and vehicles. There was an attendance of about thirty. Mr Doubleday was voted to the chair, and said that the meeting had been convened by Mr M'Laren, who had lost the case in the Supreme Court, in order to see whether a petition should be signed requesting Parliament to alter the law, and whether the caße should be taken to the Court of Appeal. Justice Denniston's decision would require each engine to be accompanied by two men besides the driver and eteerer. Mr M'Laren said that he had little doubt that a petition to the Legislature to amend the Act would be successful, especially if each individual interested were to write to the member for his district requesting him to support the amendment. His lawyer, who bad consulted two other lawyers of standing, had assured him that he had a good case for the Court of Appeal, which met in February. The advantage of getting leave to appeal would be that they would bo able, until the appeal was decided, to work the engines as heretofore, with two men each instead of four, as provided for by the recent judgment. He would point out that a large numbers of persons were interested in traction-engines, of which there were about two hundred in Canterbury. These represented a value of about £100,000, and there were in addition travelling chaff cutters and othor similar machines, whioh would represent a value 0? £175,000, making a total of £275,000 involved. F&rmers, agricultural implement makers and others, besides the owners of the engines, were interested, so that a petition such as he had suggested should be largely signed. He would point out that traction engines were not nearly 60 dangerous to traffic as railway trains, which were run alongside the roads in all parts of tho country. They did not make so much noise, went much more Blowly, and could be stopped in a muoh shorter time. It would be as well to have the appeal to fall back upon in case the petition failed. The cost of an appeal would be about £50 or £60. After some discussion Mr A. M'Laohlan moved — " That & petition bo prepared and 'presented to Parliament;, asking that the olause in tha Police Offenoeß Act relating to traction engines, be repealed." Mr J. Bowman seconded the motion. Mr M'Laren suggested that none but thoroughly competent men should be employed in driving traction engines ; that certificates should be issued to euch, and that these should be cancelled for any insobriety. Most of the accidents which had happened had been caused by the incapacity of drivers. A clause providing for the licensing of driverß might be inserted in the Act. The motion was then carried unanimously. A telegram was hero received from Mr John Grigg, expressing his full sympathy with the meeting, and stating that the law, a3 interpreted, was unnecessary and harsh. Mr A. M'Lachlan Baid that he did not agree with the suggestion aa to allowing engines to be driven by none but certificated drivers. Mr M'Laren said that his only object waa to give the public confidence in meeting traction engines. People would hava far more confidence if they knew that engines were always driven by duly qualified men. Mr A. H. Anderson moved—" That a Traction-engine Owners' Association be formed." He explained thafc hia object wbq to have a body to protect the interests of traction-engine owners generally. Mr Bowman seconded the motion, I which, after disouasion, was carried new. con. Messra Pearson, Bidder, A. M'Lachlan, Scannell, Thompson, M'Lami, Durward, A. H. Anderson, Bowman, Kiagsborough, Hay man and the Chairman were appointed a provisional committee to draw up a aohome for tho organisation of the Association, and to report to a meeting to be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday next, at Messrs fljfttaon and Oo.'s office. Mr A. H. Andernon waa appointed to ach as Benjrotniry pro. icm. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.