THE TAKAPUNA SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1917, Page 7

THE TAKAPUNA SERVICE.

1 (To the Editor.) Sir, —Allow mc to protest at the decision of the Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Company and the local Council to abandon certain trips on the time-table. The reason given for the step is economy, which, however, is hardly borne out by the alterations. It seems to have always been the policy of the company to cater for the "tripper" rather than for the travelling public, and the present change amply bears out the supposition. The abandonment of the 5.45 trip from Auckland is a very serious inconvenience for a large number of business men. The reason for its curtailment is that the running of the trip entails the use of another locomotive. Granted. But it is hardly clear why it should cost so much more to run the locomotive round the lake than to keep it at the Bayswater terminus blowiDg off steam; for there is always a spare engine Bomewhere in sight, with plenty of power to spare, j Again, the cutting off of the 10J.5 trip is still in furtherance of the company's policy and the wonder is that it was so readily endorsed by the Council. The 11.15 trip might easily be abandoned, for the cargo of the car from Bayswater ia usually a very light one. The 10.15, on the other hand, is well patronised by those who have had to work at night; in fact, it has more passengers than any other night trip. Now, my contention is, why should these travellers, a large part of whom are returning at this hour through absolute necessity, have to watt until