The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1920. ONE-MAN CARS.

Southland Times, Issue 18844, 9 June 1920, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1920. ONE-MAN CARS.

Some little time ago we. devoted some space to an examination of the case in favour of the immediate purchase by the corporation of one-man cars for the local tramway system. We showed that these light cars, which are built chiefly in the United States, would effect a considerable saving in the operating expenses of the tramway system, and we demonstrated that the council’s delay in placing an order for them at once was resulting in a direct loss to the borough, a loss that would far outweigh any saving that might be effected through an improvement in the rate of exchange between New Zealand and the United States. When the Town Council last discussed this matter Councillor Maekrell was in Australia and it was decided to wait for his return after seeing the tramway' systems there before taking action. The public is not yet aware of the opinions formed by Councillor Maekrell as a result of his visit, but as he is to present report on the subject to the council we will not have to wait long for the deductions he has drawn from his inspection. In the meanlim", however, it is interesting to notice that Mr C. Henderson, the Dunedin city electrical engineer, who has just returned from a visit to America and Australia, is emphatically in favour of the one man safety' cars as a means of putting tramway systems on a paying basis in the face of increasing running expenses. Mr Henderson confirms what we have already aid that the tramway systems in the United States arc finding it difficult to carry on at the present tariff in view of the ever-increasing operating cost, and that they ate adopting these one-man cars as a means of overcoming their difficulties. Mr Henderson met many American framwai engineers and he found that these carwere favoured because they' increased revenue without a corresponding rise in the cost of operation. The light cars wete much easier on the permanent way and did not require as much power as the old heavier typo. Describing these cars Mr Henderson says;— A means of increasing revenue very materially without a corresponding rise in cost of operation has been realised in certain eases by (he adoption of what is known as the "safety- ear,” This is a veiy light single truck vehicle seated usually for about 30 passengers. The opening and closing of the door is worked by compressed air at the control of the motorman. and the car cannot be started unless the door is shut. Passengers enter end alight at the right-hand side of the motorman, who collects the fares as they enter. It is obvious from his statements that the rue-man car is being adopted as freely in ' (her countries as in America as the only a, eans of "saving” the street traction systems. lie mentions that London is using ■ -m,.;., m rush hours, but it seems that Britain is ordering large consignments of 11. esc cars from the firm from which the corporation had a quotation a little wlnlca.eo. We have no desire to anticipate what Councillor Maekrell will report to the Town '' -I’m ■ ii ’.ul we will lie very much surprised if his recommendations do not follow the due., id iho-e of the Dunedin city electrical engineer. We have 10.-t a lot of time, a delay that will prove expensive to lb“ uorouah, through the Town Council s lack r -niii.-j-ve in this matter, in spite of the late tramway- manager’s urgent repre- - t sinus, am! we can only hope that when i jl|,, r Macki-ell’s rcpotl is before them I he councillors v.-i’l act promptly and put -t, ( . i„ c ..l .-j. ir-n on a proper footing without (lehrr. It is abundantly- clear that there ''safely'’ cars are what Invercargill urgently remr''-' and we p.rc.pncsy that ii •he council doe; not .-et about re-trying as far as po-Ybb- it- dep’oral;!e blunder in lids mailer vdth -ul further footling, i! vb’i h'-ar in -m onnr-1; k-ble manner the opinions of roar exasperated burgesses, w hj will no* be let’sent in their eon !emn:r am of i he T«wn Council' = til! too prevalent 13 SPAIN vVAKING UP? In “pTe of the frequen; c-uibur t- from . j• ;1.. a ai wnei,!, it looks as 1: bpain iawaking to the needs oi in,- day. Commercially. King Alfonso's kin do:n sulim* from a reputation for day-dteau:;:; . .cr> iu events have rhown that .It-1 by In king .-'pain is beginning to loox abro ... .c , cade and to re o"g:.nlse her business me rhea's, tine e - . ii.cn;;;.- of tins b- the enthui; sin behind the moserntni to increase liar h'-nds of .-ympathy and ir.rd- relat on.-hm bet worn herxlf and the colon'.''--; t v.t -ha i-rr la M in i- i-idi America, ci-1 nias that eve now vi.-uvous republic.-. Fur.:-": ih mm privet.;i»g thr war there was a de-.ha .<>:i-e closer eonnertion with the Au’eri-c--n republic.-- --! Spa.nl hj origin an i it even proposed that the king should er ■ . ~n! a an 1 pay an official visit to then,. The south American republics ex pod themsf! cs as eager for dn eppor-t-iiiitv of welcoming him, but the war sup ervensd. Recently, however, the project v. revived, especially as the country, by its -, ttiiude (huing the war found itself in a state bort’c-rhig upon isolation in Europe. The whole country turned aga.in in the Fpanish-speaking republics and last autumn a Festival of the Race was organised as a means of cementing an entente. The festi \ :d was celebrated with tremun-aus en thud-asm in all parts of the country-, save one ._—Barcelona, and Barcelona was sternly practical. It declared that festivals and pretty speeches were of little use while there were restrictions imposed by theSpanish Government upon trade with South America, and though this "discord cut note” in the festive week was gener ally condemned, the criticisms made by the Catalonians caught many adherents and the Press of Madrid is now urging upon the government some practical effort along these lines for a real entente with the "eighteen daughters, who, on the other side of the Atlantic, remain united to the mother country by indestructible bonds.” The political events have compelled King Alfonso to postpone his trip to South America, but the demand for trade reciprocity is spreading rapidly and it is generally expected that something of a practical nature • will result. Italy has been strenu-

ously engaged in trying to secure more of the South American trade and both Britain and the United States are already firmly entrenched, but if Spain entered the field with n determination to do something prac tical she will easily develop into a rival worthy of respect. The most significant feature of the movement, however, is the sign of renewed energy in Spanish com mcrce. If it proceeds the entire position in southern Europe may be materially changed in a few years and Spain may become more powerful than she has beet: at any stage since the day's of her great overseas empire.