TRAM FARES

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 23 March 1923, Page 4

TRAM FARES

The motion for reducing Sunday tram fares agreed to by the Council last night gave effect to a recommendation made two months ago. Very little data, however, accompanied this proposal. It was made shortly before the close of the linancial year, and was not accompanied by a full statement of tramway linance. All that is known to the citizens is that the Sunday reduction will mean £0000, but the relation of that saving to revenue and expenditure i s not stated. In other words, citizens are not given the data on which they could form an opinion as to the adequacy or inadequacy of this concession. We are not saying that the reduction should not be innde. Indeed, it will be very welcome. The Council, however, should take the people more fully into its confidence on tramway matters. A third point that strikes us; i» the reply to the request of local! bodies for a conference on fare. These i bodies are to be informed that they will! be supplied with a balance sheet of the tramways, and that if after this a conference l= desired one will be arranged. It would have been better, we think, if the Council had consulted these bodios before reaching any decision ftbout the fares. Legally the outside bodies may have no right to be consulted, and we are weii aware that the ultimate liability rests on the city, but the law does not cover all rights, and 'he maintenance of friendly relations between the city and the suburban bodies will be made easier by the exercise of consideration at. the, Town Hail.