TRAMWAY ADMINISTRATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22444, 4 July 1938, Page 7

TRAMWAY ADMINISTRATION

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —When one reads the statements of Messrs Manning and Pariane, one cannot help being impressed by tne way both tnese gentlemen continue to try to justify the present political system of administration. Mr Manning states, “Tne fact tnat the labour costs have increased so rapidly cannot be blamed on the board.” Most of tne ratepayers will disagree with Mr Manning here, as the Tramway Board was one of the first public bodies in New Zealand to introduce the 40-hour week and higher wages. The board actually approved of its introduction, yet how many private undertakings in similar positions have accepted these extra costs without considerable opposition? The board’s job as custodian of the ratepayers’ investment should have been to oppose any measure that would increase costs, irrespective of its political views. Mr Parlane’s statement that a "board of inquiry would find nothing” is only another attempt on his part to justify his position and that of the boax-d. What the ratepayers want to know is when is the drift going to stop—£32,ooo this year, what next year? Mr Manning states that “the substitution of buses for the trams on the busy routes, although a pleasant policy, would be a financial calamity." If private transport concerns can manage their peak loading problems, surely i< is possible for the Christchurch Tramways to manage theirs, Mr Manning asks if the Christchurch public would stand the capital expenditure of £3OOO to £3500 a bus for the change-over. Probably it would be news to our board members to know that in Auckland and Christchurch a lighter type of bus licensed to carry 41 passengers, is being -operated successfully by private opex-ators. These vehicles are placed on the road for service at a total cost of only £I4OO. The ratepayers are at least entitled tc a thorough investigation of the whole position by a committee of transport experts. Transport is a specialised job Only by obtaining the views of experts will it be possible to judge whether it would be best to retain the present system, or scrap a big percentage of the rolling stock and substitute this plant for a fleet of buses that would be capable of giving a frequency of time-table far in excess of that possible by trams. Only by increasing the number of trips, and these by buses, will it be possible to stop the drift to cycles and automobiles.—Yours, etc., , BUS RIDER. July 1, 1938.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRESS. Sir, —Mr G. Manning puts up a good excuse, but it is only an excuse. It is no help to be told that the Tramway Board has been earning more and spending more during a time of prosperity than it did during the slump the stern fact remains that under Labour control the trams are not paying their way. and neither Mr Manning nor Mr Pax-lane has any remedy to offer except the unjust one of making the ratepayers subsidise the tx-am passengei's. The trams don’t pay because thtr board does not. and appax-ently will not consider the needs of the public.—Yours, etc., T , o TRAM USER. July 3, 1938.