TRAMWAY TRAP SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 15, 19 January 1931, Page 17

TRAMWAY TRAP SYSTEM.

How much longer are the public who use the Auckland trams going to submit to the present excessive fares charged? The manner in which the sections are arranged was well thought out with a view to extracting as much money as possible from the travelling public. The system of sandwiching one long section between two short ones, is nothing more than a trap for the public. Take the Grey Lynn service as an example. The first section from tho terminus taken one and a-half minutes to cover, for which a charge of twopence is made. This lands ono in Surrey Crescent, which is a long way from town. Yet the Tramway Company's fare from the terminus is fourpence. Why charge twopence for lesa than a quarter of the distance? Why not divide the ground covered into four penny sections, arid eliminate the trap system? The last attempt by Mr. Ford to instal the penny section system was not an honest attempt to do so. It was bound to fail from the outset. Why did he make the Town Hall the end of the first section, and St. Matthew's Church the end of the section.on the Ponsonby line? By doing so he showed that he could not get away from his trap system. His object, I presume, was to extract a further penny from those who did not like climbing* Queen S.trcct hill to reach Karangahape Road, which is a popular shopping area, and is only a quarter the distance for which a fare of fourpenoe from town is now charged, i.e., to Grey Lynn terminus. Another glaring instance of unfair charging exists on the Herno Bay line. The fare from town to the terminus is threepence, which is a cheap run, but if a person gets off nt the Three Lamps, which is roughly about halfway, one is charged threepence just the same. Why not make half tho charge for half the distance covered, The issue of full distance tickets and half distance tickets would be an easy matter to arrange. Mr. Ford has frequently made the statement that the trains belong to the people. I ngroe with him, but would also like to remind him that the people arc looking for a cheaper and more economical means of transport, than at present supplied. OBSERVER.