OVERCROWDED TRAMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 210, 30 May 1919, Page 4

OVERCROWDED TRAMS

SUGGESTION OP ACTION BY EMPLOYEES. The overcrowding evil on trains was the subject 1 on which a deputation from the Tramways Union addressed the City. Council last night. The chief speaker was Councillor J. Hutchison, secretary of the Tramways Union.

Councillor Hutchison introduced the deputation, saying that application had been made for the deputation before the old council went out. -He said that the membor.s of the union felt very strongly on the question of overcrowding. They said thai the motto of the service shqukl be "Safety first," and there really was danger of accident if overcrowding was continued. Overcrowding had always been an evil in Wellington, even before the war. Now it had become "absolutely indecent." When there was such overcrowding it was not possible for (he conductor to see whether passengers were getting oft' at stops, and ,the danger of accident was increased especially in the event -of "rear-end" collisions. • What the deputation asked was that the council should expedite the construction of rolling stock. Also, they asked that the blocking of platforms be absolutely stopped, 'there was a grievance, too. about cash shortages, now paid by conductors. The amount was considerable, and the conductors said that it wa? lost chiefly on. account of their having to push through crowded cars. Mr. Charles Hobbs, president of the union, said that overcrowding had been rampant for several years, and he urged that it was a danger. He said that the council had taken no'action to stop if. The 'danger was especially aggravated when people were allowed to stand oil rear platforms of cars. The loss of money by conductors amounted to about iICOOi which was a serious drain on the earnings of fhe men, He did not wis.h to make threats, but it- was a fact that there was an element in the service today who wished to take drastic steps (o curtail overcrowding. The officers of the union deprecated any such action and tried to restrain the men, but if something were not done to stop overcrowding the men might feel that they wero forced to take sonje action, which, ho thought, should be taken only under instructions from the City Council. The Mayor said that the council had no chance of getting any additional machinery for the powerhouse. It had not been possible to make more : ears, but if it were possible additional ears could not to be put on the tracks until more power was available'. The matter was one for consideration by;(he Tramways Committee and the council., He assured the deputation that the council 'sympathised with the conductors in their difficulties—having to' collect fares in crowded cars. Really the trouble was one that would have to be regulated or tolerated by the puiblie until the council could get the required plant, He hoped that the decision of the council would give satisfaction to the union. He was very sorry to hear of the shortages' in the men's cash. He was sure that the council did not wish that its employees should be penalised in 6uch a way.