THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1917, 16 April 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

The City Council have now before them applications by the Tramway Company for power to construct loop lines at various points on the tramway proposed to be laid down. Wo hope that before granting all or any of these applications to construct sidings or loop lines, the Council will very carefully consider the interests of the citizens, which may be affected very materially by the carrying out of those works. It is intended, we believe, to carry out, at no distant date, a very considerable extension of the lino of tramway now existing. Already it is being carried along one of our main arteries of traffic—viz., Victoria street. Should tho company—as it is said they intend doing —carry tho lino along the Ferry road, they will have to pass through another of our most crowded thoroughfaros—viz., High street. Now, without any doubt, the construction of loop lines anywhere along these extensions, as proposed by tho Tramway Company, will to a greater or lesser extent prove a nuisance to tho tradespeople and residents. We say to a greater or lesser extent, because of course the annoyance and loss of trade to a shopkeeper would bo a greater nuisance than tho mere cutting off of communication with tho road in tho case of tho private resident. Those loop lines a specimen of which has been laid down near Messrs Montgomery and Co.'s store—run very noarly up to the pavement on one side, or at least so close that, as wo understand tho roading of tho law given by Mr Mellish, any carriago or other vehicle standing botweon tho tramway cars and the footpath must be considered an obstruction under tho Act. Now lot us put a caso in connection withthoso extensions and proposed loop lines. It may happen that one of these may como opposite tho shops of ono, two, or moro tradosmon. Assuming tho reading of the Act by Mr. Mollish to bo correct, for several periods during the day, varying in duration, any communication by moans of carts or carriages is completely closed to those in front of whoso premises tho loop lino is formed. To put an extreme case, wo might ask what would bo the result if this occurred in front of tho promises of Messrs. Straugo and Co., Ballantyno and Co., or other establishments, whoro carriages havo to wait some time. Of course, tho injury i would not bo so groat to many others as i

in this case, but in a degree tho nuisance would exist, and would tend to direct trade from the premises of tho unfortunate trades-people, in front of whoso premises these loop or siding linos were formed, if they are constructed similarly to that now in use. If tho loop lines are laid so as not to interfere with the traffic, leaving room on either side for vehicles to draw up to tho without boing considered obstructions, thon there can be no objection. Tho tenor of the Tramways Act of 1872 is, all through, to conserve as much as possiblo tho undoubted right of the public to use tho roads, whilst promoting tho construction of tramways. That this is so is proved by sections 100 and 101. Section 100 provides for the reservation of power to the police, or tho local authority (i.e. tho City Council), to regulate tho traffic on the roads on which tramways aro laid, and further power is given them to regulate the traffic of tho promoters of tho tramway as woll as other porsons. Clause 101 rosorves tho right to the public to pass along and across every part of tho roads on which the tramway is laid. It will, therefore, bo seen that the Logisla ture places iu tho hands of the local authorities —in this case tho City Council—the power of conserving the rights of the public. To allow loop lines to bo made in a manner affecting injuriously the trade or business of any section of tho public is a breach of the Act, and should not be permitted for one moment. Already, as we have pointed out, the Tramway Company have been allowed to do far too much as they liked. Their trains have been allowed without remonstrance to stand for a quarter of an hour at a time in tho centre of one of our most crowded thoroughfares, thereby involving the risk of accident; and the citizens, as represented by the City Council, have been silont. But we cannot think for ono moment that the public woidd allow any section of the community to bo injured without protesting against it most energetically. Of the fact that if these loop lines are carried out on the plan now in use, the interests of tho public will be affectod, there can, we think, be no doubt. Therefore we urge upon the City Council not to allow these plans for loop lines which are now before them to pass and receive their sanction without it being made plain to the company that they must bo carried out in a manner which will not inflict injury upon any one. Unless this is done tho City Council should resolutely decline to sanction the plans at all. The company would then soon find it to its interests to lay these loop lines so that no " obstruction " —so called—could take place.