91
carriages
and
machinery, shall
be inspected and
tested once a year in January. The
Company's
cables
are tested twice a year as a matter of fact.
They are tested once when first put into use, and again in January, but no inspection takes place.
A waiver of inspection is given, and they are used again without any inspection.
Regulation 7 provides that the Company shall give a month's notice in writing of any intended change or alteration of any engine or carriage on the Tramway.
The term "change or alteration" is very vague. If the Company had to give notice and await inspection for every petty repair that had to be effected on the machinery or carriages, it would be a permanent hindrance, as scarcely a day passes without some repair being made, such as replacing old machinery, nuts, bolts, or pulleys with new ones.
If the Company had to give notice for every such change, it would be impossible to operate, as frequently, changes are contemplated only when unforeseen circumstances arise, and immediate action becomes necessary.
Regulation 7 merely provides for penalties for breach of regulations that it would be absolutely impossible to conform to.
At present, therefore, the Tramway Company is in the position of being entirely at the mercy of each successive Director of Public Works, as inspections are arbitrary.
AJ 20