SUBURBAN TRAMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 86, 12 April 1911, Page 10

SUBURBAN TRAMS.

MIRAMAR RESIDENTS CROWDED OUT. COMPLAINT TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. A vexed question ca-mc up for discussion at last night's meeting cf the Miramar Borough Council, following the ieceipt of a written complaint from a ratepayer regarding the carriage of passengers on Mlramar-bound cars. The writer {Air. John Callister) couched his complaint in the following terms : — "While trying to board the 5.1 p.m. car on 29th March, 1911, for Miramar at Courtenayplace, Inspector Simeon caught hold of me, and eaid 1 could not gel on the car. I told him that it was a Miramaa- car, and that I lived at Miramar and that I was going to get on. Tho inspector said there was not room. 1 said to him, 'Seeing that it is a Miramar car I demand of you to find 'me a place! 1 . The inspector's reply was that he did not care where I lived; I was not going to board the car ! Now what I want to know is, hae ho power to discriminate against Miramar passengers, when Brougham, Pirie, Austin-street, and Hataitai passengers are allowed to board the car? I take it that the car is for Miramar passengers. Also, am I not entitled to expect that the inspector should make somo endeavour to hnd me some place on the car?" In the course of a general discussion, the Mayor (Mr. J. Brodie) eaid he considered , that some instructions should be issued to tramway officials to give through passengers preference on occasions when cars were oyercrc-wded. He personally had had experience of the difficulty of obtaining a seat on a Miramar car. If the tramway authorities were approached the trouble could doubtless be overcome. To his mind there were many ways in which it might be remedied. Councillor Bowie contended that the Miramar Council should -evolve somo way out of the difficulty, as it appeared that the City Council could not. Councillors without exception 6|3oke in condemnation of the existing state of affaire, which was not fail- to the Borough Council. The council had to pay mileage to the City Council for Miramar cars, which were in reality half full ol passengers bound for enort -distance stations. Shortage of cars on the city run was said to be at the bottom of the trouble, and in this connection it was remarked by a councillor that it was a pity Miramar should be made to bear the city's burden. It was mentioned by one speaker that when previously approached on the matter the City Council had replied that it was endeavouring to arrange workers' tickets, and that if its anticipations were realised the congestion should then be greatly relieved. In cases where cars run at the instance of the Miramar Council were crowded with city and short-distance passengers, the council should, in tho opinion of one speaker, be charged only half mileage. Councillor Bov.io contended that it ought to be insisted that the conductors should ask short distance people to wait, at Courtenay-place, when the car was crowded. Reviewing the whole situation, the Mayor said that some alteration would have to be made ; things could certainly not be allowed to continue as at present. "On Saturday afternoons." he concluded, <- it ia something disgraceful." Eventually the council resolved to write a strongly-worded letter to the City Tramways Department in' support of a request to amend matters.