BUS FARES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 52, 25 November 1930, Page 6

BUS FARES

Increases Opposed The Lower Hutt Borough Council is strongly opposed to the proposed in-, creases in the railway bus fares in so far as such increases relate to travelling within the borough. The matter came before the council at its meeting last night in a tetter stating that the minimum fare of 3d. between the V.I.C. and the Town Hall, and Mocra and the Town Hall, was to be cut out and the fate increased to 4d. The proposal is also to eliminate the return fare, although concession tickets of six rides for 1/6 were purchasable. In future the other charges were to be estimated on a mileage basis. When the letter was read to the council by the town elerk, Councillor D. S. Patrick exclaimed: “That’s pretty hot.” Councillor Grierson asked whether there was any alternative in the fare between Petone and Lower Hutt. He was informed that that was a question of mileage under the new pro“I think,” said Councillor F. Campbell, “we ought strenuously to oppose any increase in the bus fares. Lower Hutt exists solely by reason of its cheap transport fares. When the Government took over the buses everyone knew of their dilapidated condition and the heavy expenses that would be necessary to remedy that. . , “Those who have taken the trouble have seen the Government gradually getting square on the balance-sheet,.and this year might see them getting on the right side. At this time, therefore, to increase the fares is wrong. I suppose it is to make the bus charges correspond with the increases in the train charges. That is quite wrong. The increases may be so considerable to a family that a family simply could not face them.” Councillor Campbell’s motion that the council strenuously oppose the increases in bus fares was seconded by Councillor D. 8. Patrick, who said the business places in Lower Hutt would be tremendously affected by such increases. While uearly every other commodity was falling the Railway Department had decided to increase fares. “We should make a very strong attempt to oppose these increases so far as Lower Hutt is concerned,” he concluded. In the opinion of Councillor Meldrum the residents of Lower Hutt were already greatly overburdened with Government taxation. “The department should not have tried to balance by increased fares,” said Councillor Campbell. The department ought to have thoroughly overhauled its system.”