STREET-CAR PERILS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 8

STREET-CAR PERILS.

THE CENTRE PASSAGE.

LEGISLATION THIS SESSION.

VIEWS OF THE MINISTER.

The abolition of the dangerous sidestep on tramway carriages was again tile subject of question and answer in tho House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. T. H. Davey, member for Christchurch East, brought the matter up last week, and, asked that the Government should introduce legis.ation

dealing with the conversion of tramcars to central passage type, or that, failing this, facilities should bo given for tho consideration of a resolution affirming tho desirability of such a conversion being made. Mr Davoy was told at the time that he would bo given a definite answer on Tuesday, and he thorefore repeated his question yesterday. ' .... . Tho Hon. W. Frascr (Minister for Public Works) said that he had no objection to' a discussion in tho House, but it would be perhaps better to await the result of an official inquiry which ho intended to have made into the death of a conductor in Wellington recently. He was doing this. at tho request of the Mayor of Wellington, who liad written to him and asked that such an inquiry should be held. In his previous utterance on tho subject, he had said that he intended to. nring down legislation to be dealt- with this session, regarding these trams.. Ho had taken steps to call a conference and obtain the opinions of municipalities and of tramway employees, with a view to altering the present law in so far as it might be required to bo done. , As he had said before, something required to he dono in the way of doing away with footboards within a reasonable time. That morning ho had met the officers in chargo of tho local tramways. Ihey liad brought up three cars from Thorndon for his inspection, and ho had taken tho opportunity of ascertaining what number of cars had been transformed from tho old stylo to tho new. Tho information he obtained wa_s that four old box-cars, fifteen long doubledeckers, 0110 converted palace car, ono palace car, two new .combination •five converted combination cars, and two other combination cars, a total of 30, all liad a passage way down tlio centre, so that a man- need not go outside at all. There w-ere still a cood many cars to deal with, including fourteen combination cars. He to d tlio municipal officers that ho should expect them to nrocced at once and alter these cars. Ho was told that the combination cars only required a doorway at tho end, and that they could be converted in seven or eight weeks. At the ond of that time fifteen cars would be added to the thirty that already had a central passage. This would make forty-five cars in all, fully, half of the number used on the Wellington lines; oxclusive of Wadestown and- Brooklyn. The balaiico of tho Wellington cars were difficult to deal with. Tho only way to deal with these cars was practically to rebuild them. ■ They had shown him ono car which they had altered and fitted with a seat on each side running from'end to end. It was a long car, and one that it would be awkward for peoplo to get out of. It had not yet been decided what was the best mode of altering these palace cars. He thought the final result would be that the House would decide that after a. certain period these cars which wero neither more nor los 3 than a death-trap should not bo used. That would be for tiie Houso to decide later on. As to an opportunity for discussing the matter, .it should be .delayed until tho inquiry about to be held was over. Ho did not think that the House should rush at once upon the corporation and say: "Wo won't allow vou to use these cars at all," without allowing time, in which to get other cars to put in their places; but, with that limitation, everything possible should be done to -push the matter on. Mr. Davpy said that information lie had received from the Tramways Union in Wellington was that tho agroement arrived at by the Minister for Public Works and tho corporation had not been carried out by tho latter body. Only six cars had been converted since the agreement was made. The Minister: Oh, nol Mr. Davey: I am prepared to prove that. The list of' cars mentioned by the Minister included old and new cars. " Tho agreement was that one car should be altered per month, but lie was told : that only six cars had been altered in fifteen months. The tramway employees were prepared to prove t-liis at any time. The old box-cars had always had an aisle through tho centre. The Minister said that there wero

only four box-cars. Mr. Davey said it had been stated when tho matter of converting tho cars was last raised that it would cost £400 in the case of each vehicle. It could not be contended that tho cost would be so great if fifteon could bo converted in seven or eight weeks. Ho was pleased to hear that the Government intended to bring down legislation dealing with the position, but he was afraid if they waited for the report of exports on the legislation desired, no legislation would be brought down this session. What did the experts say- two years ago? They practically told him (Mr. Davoy) that 110 was mad to desire the improvements made that he did. They said it . was a blocking clause altogether. • Yet 50 men had beefl injured! in Wellington, a dozen seriously hurt, and four killed. In Christchurcli sixty men had' been knocked ofE the footboard and one killed. What need was there to wait now for the report

of a board of experts? Whv not como down straight away with legislation? ,It was obvious what was wanted. It 'tfas a crying sfliamo to call the experts togethor while the men were being hurt. What was wanted was merely common sense to deal with tho problem as it stood. Even now they werewaiting for experts, wlion tho Minister's obvious duty was to bring in legislation.

Tho minister in roply denied that he was waiting for tho report of a board of experts. Mr. Davey: Yes, you are. Mr. Frascr said he could quite understand Mr. Davoy being excited about this matter, because ho took it very greatly to heart, and ho (the speaker) gave him every credit for it, hut it was no uso bringing down two Bills—one to deal with this question and another to deal with the general nuostion. He wanted to bring down a Bill which would deal generally with tramway matters and specifically with this question. This question had nothing to do with the conference which ho was now convening, only lie wanted to get the oonferehco assembled here before he got the Bill drafted to submit to tho House. They had to remember that they had to give a certain amount of timo in order to cope, with the •requirements of tho travelling public. He admitted this must bo a defmito time, and it must not be too long a' time. Ho was told that thirty of tho cars being used in Wellington were now so altered that the men did not need to go outside them at all. Another fifteen would bo altered in two months' timo. This, was tho case, and it- was "no uso denying it. With regard to the box cars, in'tlio roturn given to him there wore onrv four box cars._ Mr. Davey: Tlioy aro not giving you facts then. They haven't lcent faith with that agreement made with you. Mr. Frascr: 1 can only giw you the information given to me. Ho could only say ho was as anxious as anyone to bring the matter out satisfactorily. It, was no uso discussing tho matter now till the Bill came down.