SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 14

SANDERS CUP.

FARES TO LYTTELTON. RAILWAY OFFICIALS IN REPLY. Exception has been taken by officers of the Railway Department to statements made on AVednesday evening by members of the Canterbury Yachting Association, and in yesterday's issue of The Press by a correspondent named "Citizen" regarding the Department's attitude with referenco to fares to Lyttelton during the Sanders Cup contest. "*

Mr H. C. Guinness, chief clerk m the District Traffic Manager's office, said "Citizen's" letter contained misstatements, and the assertion* of the members of the Yachting Association also called for refutation. The suggestion had been made to the Department by the Association that it bo given a rebate on all tickets issued to Lyttelton as in former years, and the Association suggested 3d on all first-clam fares and 2d on all second-class tickets. This meant that the Department had been asked to reduce the Lyttelton suburban fare from Is lid first-class to Is Bd, and from Is 3d second-class to Is. It was pointed out to the Association that already suburban fares operated, and* these were considered to- be low enough. In its reply the Department stated that in former years, when the regatta was'an annual affair at Lyttelton and was held on New Year's Day, the suburban fares were loaded with an additional 3d and 2d, and the increase was refunded to the Regatta Committee. The request this year was for a reduction in fares by 3d and 2d, and for the total amount so deducted to bo paid to the Association, whereas in past years the fares had been increased to allow of this. Eegular Passengers. It would be inflicting a hardship, the Department had contended, on many regular users of the train service—probably over 50 per cent.—if all fares wcro increased during tho Sanders Cup contest, as only a section of the passengers would be travelling to Lyttelton to see it. This had not.been tho case with New Year's Day, which was a public holiday, and the huge crowds sometimes totalling 30,000 and 40,000, which went ,to Lyttelton were practically all attracted by the regatta. The Department had no intention of increasing fares,, and the Yachting Assor ciation had been so advised. When the Department had suggested that it load the tickets this year in the 6ame way as in the past, subject to approval, tho offer was rejected by the lachting Association. Tho Department did not make donations to nnybody, in spite of Mr F. E. Sutton's statement that it intended to make a donation to tho Association" after fleecing the public. It would bo tho Association's own charges -which it would be repaying. Accommodation. Holelkcepers at Lyttelton have denied a report that there is likely to bo a shortage of accommodation there. They working in conjunction with the Yachting Association on the problem of accommodating visitors, but room can bo found for an additional 200, and so far only one hotel lias received extra bookings in connexion with the Sanders Cup contest.