THE DUST NUISANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16919, 19 December 1922, Page 11

THE DUST NUISANCE.

TRAMWAY BOARD STATEMENT. Tho chairman of the Christchurch Tramway Board (Mr I>. Sykes) made the following statement yesterday in regard to the dust nuisance:— home years ago the board and the Christchurch City Council shared jm the construction of water depots and the purchase of water rolling stock, the total costs being £10,607. At the expiration of tho agreement tho board purchased the council's interest in the plant, thus making it possible lor suburban bodies to have the use of it. The board then undertook the watering of roadways for the City Council, and later ‘on for Waimairi Council and Riccarton Borough. The price charged is ■cost price. As the City Council extended its area of tarred macadam streets, it has decreased street, watering until at the prebent time there is no street watering don# by the Tramway Board or it in the area bounded by Weston Rood. Papanui ; Fisher Street. Sydenham : Ensor’s Rond. lunwood ; Stan more Road nnd Edgeware Rond. “ At no time has the City Council, nor the other local bodies, required any street watering to he done, on Sundays, nor has the board watered any of its tracks on Sundays. The ljoard is required under the award to keep Sunday work down to n minimum. This i in addition to the. deterrent of double cost, for Sunday work. The expensive pi’snt at the disposal of the hoard is already fully employed on week days. m\d T do not think in the present state of financial stringency that any more money should ho .jpent on it. The outer area roads are greatly used by motorcars. and the dust is largely created bv thjs class of traffic. “ In* addition to watering its own track, the hoard is prepared to water ill# roadway for any of the local ailthn. iiioH at cost price, which is less than these bodies couj*’ do. it with plants of tlieir own. The choice is for thc.se local authorities to say ‘ Yes ’ or 1 No.’ il fn regard to the complaint about the dusty condition of cars and trail•fs on a recent Sunday. I would point out that all cars and trailers are overhauled and cleaned every day, Sundays i vl tided. before being sent out on the road, and what the board could do beyond this I do not know, unless it adopts a suggestion made to me which was to the effect that all passengers should he supplied with dust coats and cool drinks on dusty days.”