THE TWO-PENNY FARE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 498, 4 May 1909, Page 6

THE TWO-PENNY FARE

PECULIAR POSITION AT MIRAMAR. WILL GUABANTORs" PAY LOSS? Quite recently the Miramar Borough Conn oil decided that, owing to the loss.on th running of the. Miramar trams, chiefly oo that section between Miramar Avenue—th road than traverses across the'flat* in. a'lin with the Miramar wharf cutting—and Mirs mar North, the fares should be raised to tw< pence from the city boundary to Minima North, instead of a penny as heretofore, an' the penny section from the boundary woul terminate at the avenue. This resolutioi to increase the fares in the manner indicate was carried by the old council, but in it reconstitution at last week's election a major lty of those pledged to favour no increase was-returned, and there is the very inrainen possibility of the fare-raising resolution \bein| resfcindod at an early date. *•'*'. ; It should be made quite clear that the ne** scale of fares in Miramar (the Seatounlii is not affected) does, not'affect regular pa* §engers','as a special monthly ticket has bee issued'which gives them 52 rides-for 3s. 6d. assuming they ride in and out once a,da; (Sundays excepted). To ensure the dail; use of the ticket (or as an alternative th' a ride) the ticket* is market! off L sections round the edge, each one bearini tho date of .the month. ' . Tho new arrangement camo into force oi Saturday, May 1, but the extra section di< riot attract many passengers' pennies. Tin majority; of- the footballers, hockey-players and their "barrackers" left the cars at th< avenue, and made their way to the severa grounds.7 The extra fare will, have, to b< paid, however, by visitors to the Pony Race course ■ and "Wonderland," but visitors t> tbe races do not usually cavil at fares.so lonj as there is a good service. -...*. The .following are the fares under.the nev arrangement:— : . . *■■; * * . Thorndon to Miramar North, 6d. single, Is return'. ..■ ■*.*■■■■ City ,to Miramar North, sd. single, lOd. re turn. ■ Courtenay Place'terminus to' Mirama] North, 4d. single, Bd. return. In justification of the increase in {ares oveo the least-remunerative section,. it is stated that tho loss on the Miramar trams for the year-ended March"3l was £2700, of whicl £1700 was lost ovot the Miramar North section. It will -be -remembered that when ti< Miramar Borough Council installed the tram.ways several of the land-owning syndicates subsidised the : lino, and in addition, it was understood! gave certain guarantees'againsi loss. Much was made of this at the meeting* held prior to taking a poll on tho tramways question, and the query is now being raised as to what the hew council will do in the matter. .