TRAMWAY SYSTEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 156, 2 July 1917, Page 8

TRAMWAY SYSTEMS.

WELLINGTON CRITICISED. COMPARISON" WITH AfCKT_A\D. ißy Tciejrraplt.—Special lo "Star.") WELLINGTON, this .lay. Criticism of Wellington Corporation tramways is indulged in by "Koformer." v.ho in a letter to the "1 >ost" compares the Wellington system with that of Auckland, which is operated by a comJ?tt|i\. -Fares in Aueklaml." states the Correspondent, 'are the sacne cverv (lav of the year, sections are imieh longer, ears are immensely superior, and seal .">:! p__.engor_ each, while only I . persons are allowed tn stand in any car. The s. i-vi.e Ls much more fro.pL.it. and the •wages of employe., are' libber. The company has t.. pay license fees and taxes to the city, from which our corporation -trams are exempt. It has to maintain the whole of the roadway between the tails, as well an a. foot on either side. It ha. to .hare excess profits with the city, which amounts tn several thousand pound, a year—more, indeed, than our Corporation trams have ever shown in the way of pro.it. It has to be content wilh many annoying restrict ton. from which our municipal trains are iree. and. after all. ii shims a yearly profit of lil'ty or sixty thousand pounds. These are all plain facts, which will stand any investigation. Do they not suggest there i* something wrong with ictr _vst.m? No ilotibt excuse - will iie olVered that Auckland has a. mii.li larger population. which does not at all ali'ect the result because the eiciinan\ runs nearly twice a- many . i.r- a. _~ ,!,,. and. when that city's population _as ma.h smaller the company showed ji:-t as goo.i results. Wliac have our corporation tramways to show iv comparison ? High lares, extra fares ~._ Sundays and ho'itiays. short sections, lower wanes, overcrowded, small, mil uncomfortable .-ar-. no tax.v t.. the city, depreciation fund in a had way, an 1 no profits." A "Posf report..- .vho sought information found the position was not quite as represented. I'm- example, average lengths of the sections on four routes ill Auckland arc Inn. 5... >)■>. and li. chains, an.l on four routes in Wellington If 1"). *>, 111.',, and ss chains. Workers' concession tickets in Wellington are in-,re liberal and general concisions i„ this city are ennsidered to i-,e deidedlv more fa'votirahle. tnkinp the whole system. Exact information va- not. obtained as to the scales of nay. hut it. is understood that there is very little .liiTer; :ne. As to tinanee, comparison was made in 101.". I>\nii accountant, and t!;is shone, i that the Auckland Con:;ianv's capital vas. roughly, half a million 'more than thai of the \\ elli!i_ton traniß. and revimtte was approximately L'l(Kl.(M.l greater. The greater capital and greater revenue are both accounted for by a more extensile sy.tem .eiving a greater population, and. to make Ihe e..„p l .ri.-o„ faii-K. „ n e must ■ misiih r if tlio larger rev. nne i- in pro1' rtion to the -rreater cupit.il. In in 1.. Vnekliind l without deducting taxes, franchise charges, etc.. which are not payable by the corporation i. made about 1 per cent, great, r jri'ii.-. profit thin Wellington. To account for this exactly expert investigation of account- and .v.terns would be necessary. Auckland policy is naturally to earn reasonable divrdend_. Wellington policy has not liooii to earn profits for reduction of rates, but to provide the cheapest and best sen ice for the public, and to extend it as far as possible. The Council charges rent for corporation land occupied by the tramways 1 innate amount for street lighting, and is charged .vith the maintenance of the ma.! lietwceti the rails. 1; is admitted that the ears in Auckland are roomier. out this is due to a wider track. Wellington, when the system was inaugurated, ha 1 to suit it- track to the v. idth 1.1 .-..in.- of the main -tree:.--, whi h had not then been widened. it is the rule iii Aueklaml definitely forbidding crowding, sometimes this operate- to the inconvenience of citizens. .yh„ ~,.,. ~.f, standing in the streets. Auckland, li'o.v----i-to.-i.. It is recognised that Wellington. supply i- insullieiont, espc'-iallv since the _cr\tec has expanded, but the ibllieu .v i vents this defect being rett'ciied ai enf •. ! I'libiased persons ae.piainte.l with both I cities do not state that Wellington cat's! in the matter of comfort, littings. etc.,] compare so unfavourably with Auckland as, "Hcformor" states, and Aucklanders themselves do not consider their .-y.-tcm perfect.