TRAMWAY FARES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 14

TRAMWAY FARES.

Sir, —Your correspondent, "Traveller," has apparently never visited New York in his journeys in the U.S.A. The "flat rate" of faro prevails there, but. for the disgraceful overcrowding on trams, elevated and underground, it would be difficult to find a parallel in the world. In regard to the overcrowding on the underground in particular, hard things indeed have been stated at public meetings specially held in an endeavour to rectify matters. "Traveller" is free to hold the opinion that "America leads the world in transport," but to those who are familiar with transport in other countries —such as England, France and Canada, to give a small selection—the expression of such an opinion comes as a surprise. Has "Traveller" ever timed a tram journey from Fifth Avenue to Ninth Avenue in New York ? One could go a long way in an Auckland tram or in a London "tube" in the time taken on such a journey! Travelled.

Sir, —Permit me to point out that "Passenger's" reasoning is fallacious in that he assumes in the case of water supply that consumers "pay according to the quantity used." Surely it is generally known that most local bodies charge a "flat rate." In my case the charge is 30s for 20.000 gallons, whether used or not, and although my consumption may not exceed 10,000 gallons I must still pay the 30s "flat rate." Another consumer may use twice as much water for the same price and this irrespective of the distance the water may have to be carried to him. The principle is quite clear, and, I consider, exactly analogous with that which is being urged for our tramway fares. Of "Economy's" letter also I should like to remark that I have not yet seen advanced or implied a proposal for several rides for one 3d fare and that his deduction from Mr. Morton's letter that " a penny stamp should be sufficient for any number of letters" lacks the constructive reasoning of which he appears otherwise capable. For the cost of sending a letter to the next street the same letter may be sent to London, but the relative costs to the Postal Department are obviously widely different. Does "Economy" consider that the letter which is carried the longer distance should bear a proportionately greater postage charge 1 The principle here is plainly that of the %vater supply instance above and in my opinion equally analogous with the proposal for flat rate tramway fares sponsored by Mr. Morton. Second the Morton.