OVERCROWDING TRAMS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 85, 5 January 1920, Page 6

OVERCROWDING TRAMS

Sir,—Now that an appalling accident has happened, perhaps it will impress the Municipal Tramway Department with a sense o£ their responsibilities and duty to the public. The overcrowding that is allowed to go on is an absoluto disgrace, and it is high timo that regulations on this matter were enforced. I had an experience on Friday Inst. I joined the Lyall Bay car about 3 o'clock at the Bank of New Zealand corner, and it filled up en routo to Courtcnay Place. On arrival there, there was one mad rush by those waiting, and we left the Courtenay Place stopping station with 40 passengers standing. Tin's in addition to the seating capacity of the car, to go to Lyall Bay by the tunnel route. No attempt, was made by the conductors (a second one having joined the car at Courtenay Place, and left it at this side of the tunnel) to etop the passengers getting on to an already full car. Had anything gone wrong with the ear or those in charge of it, nothing could have pre'vented a serious accident, attended haps with loss of life. We were so packed in the car that it was impossible to iuovo; beside the discomfort of this there is always the danger, linlooked for, of course, of something going wrong. The extra weight alone in negotiating the hills is a source of danger. I know that it was n holiday and that tram trafflo to Lynll Bay was .Jaxed to its. limit, but there is all the more reason that every precaution should be taken.

Why is this allowed to go on? Tho manager of the tramways must be fully aware of it, and if regulations on thi« matter are made, then why nre they not enforced? I understand that tlidatres and other places of amusement nre not allowed to overcrowd. If thev do, (hen they are summoned and fined. Then, Sir, why are the municipal tramways allowed to do it witfc impunity?—l am, etc., WALTER GEORGE. Wellington, January 4, 1920.