TRAMWAY POLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 82, 28 June 1927, Page 10

TRAMWAY POLES

DANGER TO MOTORISTS Auckland motorists are in agreement with the view expressed in the May journal of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that tramway centrepoles constitute a great danger. “Some years ago we made representations to the City Council, pointing out the number of accidents that were caused through centre-poles, and the extreme danger of leaving them there,” said Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association. “The reply sent to us indicated the council was sympathetic, but it was stated that the work of removing the poles would be too great to be undertaken. Our association has been opposed to the centrepoles all along.” Giving instances of the danger of the poles, Mr. Hutchison referred to Anzac Avenue and Lower JSymonds Street. At night motorists going up Anzac Avenue into Symonds Street had the greatest difficulty in seeing the poles, particularly just before reaching the Wellesley Street intersection, where the street was badly lighted. Since the poles were evidently to remain in the centre of the road, the first and last poles of a series should be lighted, in the same manner as poles with tramway clocks. This precaution would help to minimise accidents. A piece of early City Council history vitally affecting the fate of tramway centre-poles was related by Mr. G. Henning, vice-president of the association. He said the question of tramway centre-poles came before the council a number of years ago, when the then acting-Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of retaining the poles in Queen Street. “I have for many years been an advocate of removal of the poles,” Mr. Henning said. “They are extremely dangerous, take up a good deal of the roadway, and do not permit cars to manoeuvre as well as they might. The poles have been instrumental in causing the death of many people, and I certainly think they should be removed *to the sides of the road.”

Mr. Henning added there was nothing in the suggestion that the poles helped to divide the traffic. Other motorists who were questioned were strongly of opinion that the time had arrived for centre-poles to be eliminated. t