REDUCED TRAM FARE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 5

REDUCED TRAM FARE

TRIAL PENNY SECTION AT SUMNER• As the result of a petition signed by 26 residents of Sumner, the Christchurch Tramway Board has decided to give a trial to a penny section between the Post Office and Scarborough for three months. The decision was discussed at the meeting of the board on Saturday morning, at which the chairman (Mr E. Parlane) presided. Mr G. Manning said he regretted the reduction. He referred to a similar experiment in Dunedin, - which had resulted in a loss, and the conditions in Christchurch were less advantageous. The trams would have to carry another 112 passengers a week to equal the receipts under the higher rate. “We should be bolstering up our revenue.” he said. Mr J. S. Barr said that the maximum sum the board could lose in a week would be 9s 4d. "Half the trouble with this board has been the failure of conservative boards in the past to experiment,” said Mr Barr in support of the board giving a trial to the reduced fare. Mr H. E. Denton opposed the reduction on the score that it was creating a precedent. Mr J. Mathison said the experiment was being made at the request of petitioners and had not been instituted by the board. The board wanted to attract business and it was often necessary to stand a temporary loss to get an ultimate gain. Mr W. J. Walter supported the need for experiments and said he would like to have trials made on other sections. At the request of a deputation of North Beach residents, the board has decided to give a month’s trial on week days to an extended service of the South Brighton bus along the Esplanade to Ozone corner, returning by Bowhill road and Shaw avenue.