The Case for Cheaper Fares

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 8

The Case for Cheaper Fares

The Christchurch Tramways Board was told yesterday by its general manager, Mr Frank Thompson, that, while he would "like to be asso- '' ciated with any proposal to reduce '" fares," he had to report that such. a reduction could not better the financial position of the tramways. It does not need an expert in statistical method to show that the figures produced by Mr Thompson arc not conclusive evidence against any and every proposal to reduce fares in Christchurch and that some of his parallels are of doubtful value. Even the experimental fare reductions made in Christchurch are not very informative, since for the most part they were partial and for short periods. Clearly, if the board wants jto disagree with its manager it will [not find it very difficult to pick holes jin his arguments. But if it is wise and courageous it will recognise that, j although the case against lower fares is not susceptible of exact proof, there is an overwhelming probability that Mr Thompson is right. The board must sooner or later face the truth that, whatever may have been the influence of fares or the depression, the elfort to regain the customers it has lost in the last five or six years is doomed to failure. Its main object must be to serve its present customers as efficiently and as economically as possible. This means that as outlying and unprofitable lines become worn out they must not be renewed. It means also, that trolley or petrol buses must be substituted for trams on all routes where they will be more economical to run.