TRAM COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 3

TRAM COLLISION

Request For Disciplinary Action ’•One of the motormen concerned failed to keep a proper look-out for an oncoming tram, causing a collision that endangered the safety of the public,” said the traffic manager of the Wellington Corporation Tramways Department, Mr. 11. Dunn, at an inquiry into a recent collision between two trams in Tinakori Road, before the Industrial Manpower Committee. The collision had boon reporled to the committee by the district manpower officer. iMr. Dunn said that when trneh cases iinu been brought before the committee it hud been the practice to have them heard Dy the appeal committee, and no publicity had appeared in the Press. The chairman of the committee, Mr. A. W. Croskery. said that, the question of publicity had already been discussed. Jhe committee bad the power to dea! wnth the case, and he did not know that the 1 resS should be turned out. The room was cleared while the mittee conferred on the matter, and when evervone had been called in again, Mi. Croskery said that section 33 of the Industrial Manpower Emergency Kegulntions -was against proceedings being held in camera. In this instane<j members or tlio committee were satisfied that something wrong imd been done, aud it was definitely in tlie interest of the public tlint tliev should know about it. Evidence was given b.v two inspectors and by the drivers of the trams. The inspectors said that tlie explanation given bv the driver of the city-bound tram was that when approaching the loop he was blinded bv the lights of a ear turning out ot Hill Street aud did not see the other driver of the outward-bound tram said that when he reached the Hawkestone Street loop he could see the other tram at the far end of the HUI Street loop. He proceeded to the loop, and then saw the ■other tram moving toward him. A collision was then inevitable. Tho driver of the city-bound tram sula that he did not stop in the loop but drove through till he heard a gong. The light of a motor-car coming out of HUI Street bad blinded him. . There had been several collisions, sale Mr. Dunn and he was becoming perturbed bv them. As the result, eight good cars which were urgently needed were undergoing repairs. Two of them were from the oresent case, two from a recent case before the Court, two from the Wadestown terminus. and two from Cuba Street. Had tho driver of the city-bound tram kept a proper look-out on this occasion the collision would not have occurred. He asked the appeal committee to consider the management’s request that the mtorman breduced to conductor, from a dlsciplina>j point of view. The management had not now the power to deal with motormen, the case must come .before this committee. He believed' that if the request were granted it would prove a ■deterrent. 8 "There have been a number of collisions before this committee.’’ said Mr “You have never asked that thi& penany hp enforced on drivers.’* . , b Mr. Dunn said that he had received a direct communication that he should not do so “We have not asked- that motormen should be reduced to conductors; W3 ar The k l n eereta?r'or the Tramway Employees’ Union, Mr. Hansen, said that the union had complained about motor-ear headlights, and also about the selieduks motornmn had to drive to ever since the war started. Every time a rootormau parsed a ear. headlight he drove for some 100 feet in fl black-out. The staff working 13 days a fortnight, averaging over 60 hours a week. Decision was reserved.