WORKERS' TRAM FARES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 6

WORKERS' TRAM FARES.

This week tlie workers liave tlieir weekly tickets raised from 3/3 to 3/6, and the alteration does not prove much breadth of outlook on the part of the Transport Board in taking the 'line of least resistance, knowing, as suggested in my last letter, that these are the only class of passengers who cannot to any material extent avoid the imposition of a higher fare by travelling otherwise. It is a most extraordinary thing that in all the reports of. the board's meetings there has never been a single reference to tlie main factor that is preventing the increase in tram passenger traffic that is claimed as the only alternative to raising fares. As a matter of fact, there are two methods for making up the shortage, either of which would be fair, whereas this week's scheme is distinctly unfair and discriminating against one class. The Prime Minister has stated that the Government will get its required taxation from those who are best able to pay, but the Transport Board could produce no evidence to prove that the workers who are being singled out this week for special taxation are any wealthier than any other class of the community. The financial shortage anticipated owing to higher wages and shorter hours could be overcome in two ways. Increase the traffic by making motors pay for the whole of the roads that they use instead of leaving the ratepayers to meet the bulk of it, and then a good many motorists would abandon the most expensive .method of travelling, and use the cheapest, trams. In tlie alternative, seek legislation whereby the trams should only pay for the same proportion of tlie roads tliey use as the motorists do. Either method would be absolutely fair. VIATOR.