COMBINATION CARS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 6

COMBINATION CARS.

AJ!E Till-: FOOTBOARDS UXSAFK? During the hearing of evidence at tho above inquest, the construction of certain cars of thn combination type, and their safety (or otherwise) for conductors camo Milder mention.Mr. Bliiir asked permission to call evidence on behalf of the Tramway Union, with a view to indicating the number of mwi who had been killed or injured while working on this class of car "This," Miid Mr. Blniv. "is the class of car which tvns aimed at in Parliament in what is known iis . the 'Davcy Clause,' which wa.; last, session, and tho men are very much afraid'of the possibility of this clause being repealed. The employees do not often get the opportunity of being heard on this matter." Mr. Blair BT.ut on to say that, in this particular :ase," deceased apparently fell oft, owing to the insccuritv of the footing. Thn footboard on this typo of car was ouly six inches wide. * 'jerf. Gore Ward, motorman, who has h[u, /alxrut eight years' experience on Wellington trams, stated that ho knew cars Nbs.' 41 and 42. There were differences between these twc. cars and other types, though all were of the same pattern. Witness was then asked to detail tlif difference, which might affect the caso under inquiry. Witness: So far as I can find out, the running-board is narrower on tho?(> than on other cars, while tho little back step is' lower than, the running-board. A conductor stepping from one to the other is liable to trip. . To Dr. M'Arthur: The ordinary sum of the step is eight inches, but on these it is only six inches. Cars No's, 41 and 42 g,ro the only care that cannot negotiate

Veitch and Allan's cornet , while passing each other. Tho grips on those cars also are too far apart. Witness added that, on Saturday night, ft conductor, while endeavouring to pass along tho footboard on a crowded combination car—No. 41—fell, through merely coming in contact with a passenger's umbrella. ' Mr. O'Shea objected to this evidence, Mr. Blair, in the course of questioning witness, produced a list of the.accidents which had occurred on this class of car. Mr. O'Shea interrupted. Ho asked whether that list had Been compiled by tho witness himself. Witness admitted that he had not compiled the list fronr his own experience. The information embodied in tho list had been obtained from tho men as a whole. ! Mr. O'Shea: We are getting into very 1 debatable matter, your Worship. > His Worship: Yes. I can soe that. This . evidence raises the question of construction of the cars. Mr. Blair held that this wa3 an essen- , [ tial part of the inquiry, as the deceased ' conductor had met his death by falling - from the running-board. He (Mr. Blair) could call nt least thirteen conductors who '■ would all depose to having mot with ac- ' cidents. Some 50 or 60 accidents had been ' caused by this type of- car. t His Worship remarked that tho tram- - way authorities wero not represented, 3 anil this evidence ; was somewhat in the nature of a surprise. Mr. O'Shea: If the tramway Union have r this cause for complaint they can bring 3 it before the tramway authorities. f Mr. Blair: We have not suggested that any blame is attached to any particular person, but we blame the building of the ' car. These cars are dangerous. : The question will be further discussed , on Monday next, when the inquest is l resinned.