THE ONE-MAN CAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1922, Page 4

THE ONE-MAN CAR.

SMALL TRAM RE-DESIGNED. THREE OTHERS TO BE ALTERED. In reference to the alterations to tramcar No. 1, the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council forwarded detailed costs of the alterations, which he said had worked out at more than his estimate of £75Mr. Bartley stated: “This extra was to some extent accounted for by matters that could not always be foreseen when drafting, together with the fact that the staff must necessarily be slower on the first car. I can see no reason to alter my estimate for the remaining three cars should the council desire to have them done, and the possibility is that the amount for altering the lot will not exceed the amount estimated.” Details of the cost of altering were:—Timber £l4 13s 7d; iron and mild steel, etc., £l4 3s 8d; glass and sundries £l5 Is; labor £43 4=s; total £B7 2s 3d.

T<he Mayor said he thought all would admit the re-designed ear was a vast improvement. As the three other small cars were shortly to be overhauled they should then be altered similarly to the first car by attaching doors to enable the car to be managed by one man. He moved that these cars be altered accordinglyOr. Blackball, in seconding, said it was quite a pleasure to ride in the altered car. He thought hand grips might be installed. Again the drivers complained of the draught caused by the removal of the screen behind them. With this exception they were in favor of the redesigned car-

The motion to alter the other cars was carried.

Mr. Bartley said the screen was removed to allow the drivers a clear view of the inside of the car.