TRAMWAY DANGERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 8

TRAMWAY DANGERS.

THE FATAL SIDE-STEP.

ITS ABOLITION URGED.

BILL IN PROSPECT.

The accidental ideath of Condulotor Brcedon, as the result of a fall from tho side-step of a Wellington tramcar, was mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday by -Mr. T. H. Davey, member for Ohristchurch East, who followed up his reference to the subject by asking what facilities tlio Prime Minister would give for moving the following motion: —

"That in view of the large number of accidents, some proving fatal, which Itavo resulted from the use of footboards on tramway carriages, this House is of opinion that all such carriages should have a central passage-way from end to end of tho car, and that the Government is strongly urged to givo effect this session to tho foregoing resolution."

Tlio Prime Minister asked that the question should bo postponed until the beginning of next weeK,' so that ho might have an opportunity of consulting tho Minister for Public Works and othor members of the Mir.istry as to ■ whether legislation with' regard to the very important question raised by the member for Ohristchurch. East should be introduced. He would tell the hon. member on Tuesday next whether the Government would, introduce legislation this session or not. If the Government dccided not to introduce legislation, an arrangement could be made by which tho House would be enabled to express an opinion on tho subject. Tlio Hon. W. Fraser said that he had it in contemplation to bring down legislation dealing with tramways, in response to representations made to him, not alone by various municipal bodies that ran tramways, but by men who were employed theram. Tlio first step ho took was to send a circular round to thoso interested in tramway mattersmunicipalities owning tramways'- and various unions of men employed thereon —asking them to send to him sucli suggestions a-s t-liey would like to be incorporated in a Bill. At tho samo time lip had intimated that he would call a conference, whore the delegates appointed'would discuss matters with some reasonable .prospect of coming Ao an agreement. That conference had been called, and would meet shortly. His intention was as soon as possible to bring down a Bill giving effect to what the conference might wish. Possibly the conference might arrive at conclusions in which tho Government would not concur. That matter would be for the House to -decide. Some chango was needed, and urgently needed, to do away with tho present state of affairs under which tramwaymcn had to walk along on nlatforms outside the carriages. He honed to bo able to deal with tho matter this'session.

Mr. Russell: Will the conference represent employees as well as employers? Mr. Fraser: Most certainly Sir Joseph Ward said that lie was clad to hear tho Minister's statement. In his oninion if the clauso proposed liy Mr. Davey two years ago, and stopri»d in tho House, had been passed into law, it would have been 'nipossihle for the accident wliinh had occurred the other dav in Wellington to have taken nlace. He was stronrly in favour oflegislation that, would.do.away with flie necessity of men.';walking'along on the outside of tramears.

Mr. Davey said that, in resnonse to an inquiry, he had received from the secretary of tho Christ-church Traniways TJnion a telegram stating that, it was known positively that thirty accidents had occurred in Christehurch as a result of tho use of footboards outside tramears. One of the'accidents had been fatal, threovery serious and many serious. The secretary added that he wrts convinced that not less than sixty accidents had occurred as an out-come of the use of foot-bo"rds on tramears.

Mr. Fisher: That is Cliristchurcli alonoP

Mr. Davey: That is Christehurch alono. _ _ Tho Prime Minister said that tho hnn. member could take it for granted that tho Government would <*ivo tho House an opportunity of dealing with this matter during tho present session. Mr. Davoy was -entitled t-o verv great, credit for the interest lie hod shown and tho attitude he had taken up in this matter.