CROWDED TRAMS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 154, 2 July 1945, Page 6

CROWDED TRAMS

SYMONDS ST. PLAINT

EXTRA SERVICE DECLINED

An improved tram service from Symonds Street to the outer suburbs during the evening peak hour was requested by the Symonds- Street Business Association in a letter received by the Auckland '.Transport Board this morning. It out that trams from the city were packed when they reached the top of Symonds Street from 5 p.m. onwards, causing considerable inconvenience to a large number of employees and business people in that area. The possibility of running certain trams from the top of Symonds Street, as a starting point during the peak hours was mentioned by the association. In replying to the letter, the engineer and manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, said that this suggestion was impracticable at the present time, in view of the abnormal wartime loading. It was imperative to make the fullest possible use of every vehicle, which would not be the case if vehicles; were run from Symonds Street as a starting point." In addition, the manpower shortage was still acute, which adversely affected the existing schedules. Mr. Ford expressed sympathy with the association and the Symonds Street community, and said relief would be given when equipment from abroad again became available in the Dominion. The board endorsed Mr. Ford's reply. : ' .The chairman, Mr. Nagle. commented that the likelihood of a more srenerous petrol allowance being made to private motorists would relieve congestion on the trams to a considerable extent. Symonds Street, he said, had not been overlooked, but the position could only be relieved by depriving other parts of the city of service, and this would be against the board s policy of distributing service ■as evenly as possible.