THE CITY TRAMCARS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 8

THE CITY TRAMCARS.

CENTRE AISLES.

STATEMENT BY CITY ENGINEER. The City Engineer (Mr. W. H- Morton) mado a statement respecting the conversion of tram-cars at last night's meeting of the City Council". Mr. Morton observed that there had been soino discussion in Parliament on tho t subject, and he said that so far eighteen cars had been altered, two were to bo finished in about a week, and two more in about a month, so'that tliero would then be twenty-two converted to ceutre-aislo cars. It had been said in Parliament by Dr. Newmafi that there had been a speeding-up of cars and that that had been partly responsible for some of tho accidents. That was not correct, and there had in some cases been a slowing down. About twelvo and a half months ago the council agreed to alter tho cars at the rate of one a month. In less than fourteen months twenty-two would have been altered, and, in addition, there' were two new cars wliich had centre passages. They had done everything in reason. Councillor E. 'Tregear: No, not everything in reason. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke): I will not allow you to interrupt an officer. Mr. Morton went on tfi. deal with the difficulties of tho task, and said that' they hoped to complete tho remaining forty-seven cars at tho rato of three a moilth, or a greater rate. _ This would entail a suspension of building operations, and the whole would result in a shortage, of cars for the summer, on top of which • the alterations reduced tho carrying capacity by '25 per cent. This meant a loss of revenue at tho best revenue-producing period of tho year. - . . Tho Mayor: Have wo kept faith with tho Government?

Mr. Morton: In every way. Councillor i(. Fletcher said that he thought tho council should approach tho Government for permission to use trailers.

Councillor R. A. Wright took exception to ,a statement which he said had been made in Parliament to the effect that the council had not kept,faith with tho Government, and he thought that tho Mayor should writo refuting such statements.