NO "SPOTTERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 255, 28 October 1930, Page 5

NO "SPOTTERS."

CONCESSION ABUSED. ALL-DAY TRAM TICKETS. ABOLITION SUGGESTED. BOARD DEFERS DECISION. "We have no spotters. Our system of inspection-, is quite ope'n. The board employs no plain-clothes inspectors as is the case in other places. We have to rely upon our uniformed men, and the public are abusing a concession which has been a great convenience to many people." Thus commented the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, during the course of a discussion this morning on a proposal to withdraw from sale the all-day tram concession tickets issued at a cost of 1/6. In a report to the board, the manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, stated that the revenue derived from this class of ticket averaged £30 5/ a day on week days and £11 9/6 on Sundays, and was between £10,000 and £11,000 per annum. The tickets had been on sale since August of last year, and had been a great convenience to legitimate users. "But," he .added, "I regret to have to report that there is considerable abuse of them, due to the purchaser transferring the ticket to other persons, notwithstanding that the tickets are plainly marked, 'Not transferable.' In four cases recently it has been found that the ticket has been transferred from male t.o female, but there is nc , check when the ticket is transferred between persons of the same sex. It is, however, well known that the tickets are frequently transferred. The only alternatives open to the board appear to be: (a) Institute a closed system of check that would be costly to administer and contain objectionable features, and prosecute the offenders; or (b) cancel the concession, i.e., withdraw the ticket from sale. I have been reluctantly compelled, after giving both these methods consideration, to recommend the board to adopt the latter course." Close Observation. Mr. Allum said it was with regret that he moved the adoption of the manager's report. There had been close observation, and there was an abundance of evidence of abuse of the tickets. He could not suggest that private detectives should be employed. Such methods were repugnant to New Zealandere, although adopted on other systems. In seconding the resolution, pro forma, Mr. A. J. Entrican suggested that the question be referred to the whole board in committee. If the tickets meant increased revenue, and a system of checking could be introduced to obviato abuse, it might be wiser to continue the system. Mr. Ford gave instances of abuse of the system. He had had three cases before him recently where "respectable citizens" had been found transferring tickets. A lady who had been spoken to, said, "1 know all about it. My sister and I used to use one." Prosecutions had not acted as a deterrent. Something drastic must be done if the system was to continue. Use by Firms. Mr. E. J. Phelan said he knew personally of cases where the tickets had been transferred. At the same time, the concession had been of considerable advantage to many people. Many business firms were using the concession tickets instead of motor cars. The board might overcome the difficulty if the sale of the tickets was limited to agents, or if they were issued solely from the Transport Board office, the signature of the person buying a ticket to be taken. Mr. Ford said he would agree to issuing them from the Transport Board office, btit the sales would be considerably reduced. , Mr. M. J. Coyle said they might get over the trouble by issuing a general warning, and, in the case of a prosecution, applyi'ng for a heavy penalty. Signatures Required. Mr. L. E. Rhodes proposed that spaces should be left on the tickets for signatures, and when a conductor sold a ticket the purchaser should sign. Then when the ticket was in use and a conductor was suspicious of a holder, a signature could be asked for and compared with the original. Mr. E. H. Potter considered the board was making a loss by the issuing of the tickets.

The chairman pointed out that the abuse of the tickets generally occurred at rush hours. At such times, how could a conductor waste time in taking signatures ?

The report was referred to thu committee of the whole board for consideration.