Bush Tramways.

Progress, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 1 December 1920, Page 89

Bush Tramways.

The following Parliamentary news item of the latter part of the session will be of interest to all sawmillers:

The Tramways Amendment Bill, which provides for the inspection of bush tramways, constructed on

private land, was before the House of Representatives recently. Power of inspecton is not held by the Government at present, and some accidents have occurred owing to deterioration of material? The Bill provides also that the Minister may issue regulations for securing the safety of passengers, tramway employees, and the general public with respect to any public or private tramways. Mr. R. W. Smith (Waimarino) suggested that many regulations would be apt to hamper the sawmillers, who would often put down a short line, get out the timber, and lift the line again in the time that the procuring of a permit from the Department would occupy. He approved of the provision for inspection. The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coates) said he proposed to simplify the Bill by cutting out the provision for the licensing of private tramways and substituting merely a clause authorising inspection. The Bill was passed.