OUR TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1922, Page 7

OUR TRAMWAYS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —We have heard and seen a lot in the Press since the introduction of the Birney one-man cars, or so-called safety cars. The service here, has been looked upon by visitors and local peoj ”e as second to none in the Dominion, but what do we find since the introduction of the new Birney cars? Nothing but disapproval, slackness in the running and control of the service. The success of any service is quickness, comfort and punctuality. In rush time, ! when a fair number of passengers are | to get on at a stop, how long does it take our one-man cars to get off the I mark? Under the circumstances, how long does it take a car from Eliot Street to Egmont Street to do the trip? If we had the one-man cars general on the main route at times it would be just confusion, and a very unreliable time-table. Loss of time in getting under way means less trips and lost revenue. Why did we want to experiment with new American ideas when we had good, smart and. substantial colonial cars, and thereby spoil our well-spoken-of and good tramway service? Give the new cars five years’ active service, then see how they pan out in durability. Last of all, when the dead man control is instituted, what will they cost the council? How many of our councillors know the value between the durability of American and English steel, and construction of machinery? Councillor Blackball has evidently been schooled io American goods, but the writer, a colonial, knows two well the difference in service and £ s. d. The letter from the designers and controller of the rolling stock of the Wellington tramways, read at the last meeting of our council, says that, after seeing the Birney cars in operation, for all practical purposes they were faultless. Well, Mr.f Editor, I wonder when our Wellington friend will have a Birney car running to economise in Wellington? Just stop and think: Wellington has a fine quick service. ’‘Please get on quick or stop for next!’’ is the motto. Won’t wait for Birneys —too slow. I have fleen Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, which all have fast and god)l services, and if Mr. Bartley would have introduced the latest fresh air cars as in these cities, he would earn a little more gratitude from the travelling public of the town. Before leaving tramway matters let me just mention tramway inspection and inspector. Have we one or not? Few ratepayers knew why Mr. Pentecost ever left the service, but many know that his wages were well earned, and that his services were a distinct loss to the working of the tramways service. Regarding our electric ’bus, recently two air ventilators were put in for fresh air, but Mr. Bartley forgot to see that the tops were high enough to keep the water out. In a blowing, driving rain, it is necessary for passengers to shift seats to keep dry. When the council provides the extra promised passenger ’bus we all hope it will be upto date and faultlessly constructed.— I am, etc., RATEPAYER. [Obviously the above is penned, not with the idea of helping the borough, but of discrediting and prejudicing the electrical engineer, being part of a' general scheme to that end. It will fail in its purpose, because the one-man control scheme has proved successful in towns with thrice New Plymouth’s population, and because the town has absolute faith in the judgment of the engineer, who has been responsible for the system’s great success to date. —Ed.]