THE TRAMWAY TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 8

THE TRAMWAY TROUBLE

DIFFICULTIES REGARDING POffER

RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE

CONSUMERS

BETTER SUPPLIES OF COAL ASSURED

The Power Stations and Tramways Committee recommended to the City Council, last night that, until tho'new boiler ,is available, and. owing to the plant at the tramway power house not Deing able to copo with rush-hour traffic and private power load, 'the use of power to ] .'ivato. consumers bo curtailed between 8 ; a.m. and 9 a.m., mid between 4 p;m."and 6.30 p.m. daily. Tho committee also recommended that a new-boiler be ordered' for tho tramway power station.

• , Councillor T. Forsyth said that if the clause wero passed sonio 2500 operatives would bo affected in trades depending upon the supply of electric power. Something should bo done 'to protect' those industries, and he favoured tho clause ! "being referred back to thp committee in order to see if somo other way out of the difficulty-, could be found. *' The'. Deputy-Mayor (Councillor G. Frost) taid that tho committer and the council's officers had given very careful considera-tion-to the'matter, and tliev ww acting in the best interests of the public.. No other solution of tho difficulty appeared to be feasible. In any case, tho clause was not mandator)'. Councillor Forsyth suggested that it would bo preferable to cut off the power from lifts tlmn to prejudico tho employment of 2500 operatives. "Let the Public Walk." The City Engineer (Mr, W, H. Morton) ■ said that' nothing more could bo done ■ by the council than was being done at present, unless it was agreed icousidorftbly to curtail tho tramway service. Councillor' Forsyth: Let the public walk—they have had' x to do so before. Mr. Morton: We aro grinding down to bare bones now during slack hours, and we are running an exceedingly small service. Councillor P. Frascr pointed out that "boot factory operatives would suffer c.-serious loss in wa?es if electric power Svpro cut off from the factories. Mr. Morton remarked that no real saving would be achieved by cutting off jirwer from electric lifts, which did not commence running before 9 a.m. as a rule. Councillor Forsyth: People used to walk - for a quarter of an hour before breakfast. Surely they can walk again. ' ,-' Councillor L. M'Kenzie remarked that the question at issue'Mvas important, taking into "onsideration tho increase in the cost oi living. - "We are calling for more production," observed' Councillor J. Glover, "and yet it is proposed to cut doivn the power o( production by over, 2.5 per cent." - He thought the clause should be referred back. "Go down and blame the flovernment for the shortage of coal," declared the Deputy-Mayor. "Mr. Morton is doing all h» ran." . 1 The City Engineer said thntthe trouble was not due' altogether to the coal shortage. The Bahcoek fooile.u had broken down, "but on Monday it wns hoped that 'tbe plant' would be running normally 'again. Apart from question of coal, one of the electrical department's great troubles was that the best boiler of the whole concern was "out of action" for the greater part of tho time. He had considered the matter from every aspect, and could not see that '. anything could be done other than what "was-' recommended. "The other day." added Mr. Morton, "thorc was a Jiigger Dower-load than there was tramwayload. People may not believe it, but it was so." The Coal Question. Councillor Frascr thought the council ought to make strong representations to the Government with a view of obt'ain- , in? more coal. ' ■"' ■ The Deputy-Mayor said the Coal Trade Committee had promised to try to obtain more coal for the council. The committee was doing everything it could Some of tbe council's employees were refusing to work overtime, and the labour, question as it affected the supply of power would have to be considered. The clause would not be enforced if there was no necessity to do so. The recommendation of the committee wa.s adopted. At a in the meeting, Councillor J. O. Shorland said he had just received a tilep'honic' communication from tbe deputy-chairman of the Coal Trade Committee to the effect that, the output from the Westport mine had improved a good deal, and a normal supply for the City Council would be assured. In addition, the whole of the Westport- - Stockton output would come to the city. The Wellington City Council would not . bo "stuck" for cither Westport or Stockton coal. The Deputy-Mayor said tliat a few minutes earlier ho had received a letter from the Coal Trade Committee dealing with the.,,coal supply. The letter was .signed by the deputy-chairman, Mr. A. . S. Collins, and wns the official communication from the eomniiHec. 110 would rend the letter when the council went into committee, but not in open meeting. Councillor Shodand's statement might bo all ri?ht, but he preferred that communications to tho council should come through official channels. Official Warning, ■ The tramway traffic department issues an official warning that owing to increased difficulties in providing electrical rower for tho tramway system and vari- '. ous industries in the city, it may be found necessary to suspend the tramway services entirely for two periods daily. These periods will approximate from 11.0 to 11.30 a.m., and from 3.40 to 4.10 "... ,';-t).m. Between the hours of 9.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m. a reduced service will bo run V«n all lines until further notice. At rush hours the best possible service will be riven.