COUNCIL'S POSITION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1882, 16 October 1913, Page 4

COUNCIL'S POSITION.

I'ROGBESS OF ALTERATIONS. COMPLETED IN A YEAR, When tho Wellington City Council was first faced with tho task of bringing its tram-cars into lino with tho requirements of tho Davcy clouso, it appears that tliero were only 22 cars which did not require altering. The whole position from tho council's point of view was outlined by tho 31ayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday. There are at present 91 cars in all. and by tho end of tho present month, tho necessary alterations will have been effected to 22, making a total of 44 that will comply with the Act. This will leavo 47 still to bo altered, including G largo palace cars. 26 ordinary palnco cars, 10 small cars in. uso on tho Brooklyn and Wadestown lines, 3 cars of tlio Hongkong type,' and 2 combination cars.

Regarding tho small cars in uso 011 the Wadestown and Brooklyn hills, tho Mayor expressed tho opinion that tho Minister of Public Works would not press of these to bo altered, us tho nature of tho traffic on tlioso lines was such that tliero was 110 element of danger for tiliy conductors. It was quite a uistinct system. If these oarß, then, were eliminated from tlio number to bo altered, -and also tho threo Hongkong cars—tlio council did not propose to spend any money 011 tho latter—there would remain 34 to bo altered. On tho previous evening tho Mayor and officers of tho Tramway Board had conferred with tho Minister, and had undertaken to alter these 34 at tlio rato of threo each month. 'This would bring iliem into line with tho requirements of the Act insido of twolvo months. Any tliat liavo not been converted by that timo will not bo allowed to continuo running. As proof that tho council and tho Tramway Board had been doing all tlioy could to push on with tho work, Mr. Luko mentioned that the. twentytwo that had been altered had been done in fourteen months, and during the same period two now cars had been built. Other now cars were in courso of construction, but work 011 these was to be discontinued until all the cars in running had been altered' as required. Moreover, if the council could get assistance in tho work from outside firms such assistaneo would bo taken. Tho council and tho Tramway Board was very anxious to hasten on the work, but at the same timo tlio traffic had to he handled. All the timo this traffic was increasing, and every timo a car was altered it meant a loss of from 25 to 3!) per cent, in tho carrying capacity of that car. Already a sum of over £008,000 lias been expended on the tramway system, and tlio cost of altering the cars and adding new cars to make up for tlio lost seating accommodation will mean a considerable increase in expenditure. However, tho Tramway!

Board had been instructed to spare no expenso in carrying out the work with all urgency. Touching upon tho suggestion that all cars, which did not comply with tho .Act, should bo immediately thrown out of running, and kept out until they woro converted, tho. .Mayor pointed out that for overy car thrown out at least six men would have to ho discharged. Jne council, concluded tho Mayor, regretted the element of danger that existed with these cars, and wore concerned Hint it should he greater hero than in other places where a similar typo of car was in use.