THE TRAMWAYS BILL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 2

THE TRAMWAYS BILL.

v ' -—* IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS. Somo very important alterations liav-o 1 boon i:iado in the Tramways Amend--1 ineut Bill hv the Oommitteo winch was set up by the Legislative Council alter tho Bill was passed by the House of i Representatives. Tho ctfect of these al- . terations is to lesson the drastic rtaturo ! of tho provisions about alteration's iu tljo fia.rs as first passed, The Hill as sent to the Council pro- ■ vitfed that after August .1, 1914, all • cars must possess central passage ways, ! This - c-lauso is amended very substan- • tially, and liow provides- thai cars used - for passenger traffic must havo ah 1U- • teHiitl passage-way Iroiii ond to end of " the car, and bo fitted with steps in > such position® that passengers may ' safely entot tho car or alight therefrom. ! This latter provision is in substitution " for a clause stipulating for a fourtecn- ' inch step, i Hie- question of time to ' meet tllsese requirements is 'dealt with } in this sub-elauso,: "Where the p.ro- ' maters of a tramway in uso have at the 3 commencement of this Act cars which ' afro not constructed m accordance with 3 the requirements hereof, (a) such pros motors may continue to uso such cars now in use until tho liTRt day of Jane, ; 1914; (b) after Juae 1, 191,1, such pwf motors may eontimio to use uiit.il December 1, 1014, a number, of such cars mow in use not exceeding one-half tho . number in uso by such promoters at ) tho commencement of this Act; (c.) - after December 1, 1914, sueli promoters . shall not uso or continue, to use any f cars which arc not constructed in acoordanco with tho requirements of the - Act. For every car vised lit breach of s this section tho promoters shall bo , liable-to a fine'of £50 for every day on . which tho car is m> used." Tho Tramways Amendment Act, ],01f>, s is amended by a new clause in tho di* i rectioii of giving local authorities power 3 to inspect tramways within their areas. - This does not absolve tho Minister of r Public Works from tho power of sn- ; spection, A limitation' of tho power - granted to local authorities is eoutam- . ski in a proviso, which states that tho ; promoters of a tramway may appeal ' from an order given by the local siu- , thority within soven days, ajid In the - case of any sunh appeal it shall have - effect only when confirmed hy the Jlm- - ister and to the extent to which lie confirms it. By a further new ctiwse Sub-section 1 . of Section 11 of tho Tramways Amendmeiit. Act of 1010. which removes from , local authorities the right of iiisiwctiflfl tratticars and plows it solely in tho • bands of the Minister,. is amended by s the addition of a proviso enahlme tho Minister, in respect of any pnrtsoular tramway, to delegate his powers under tliis scction, to somo person appointed k by him. . , ' An alteration to tho law by wf of a ' new elauso is calculated to r.ortl with 3 strikes, and is referred to olsowhoffi