WELLINGTON TRAM SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 9, 11 January 1912, Page 7

WELLINGTON TRAM SERVICE.

TO IBS SDIIOE, ' Sir,—^Kindly allow me space to state a few grievances, not only on my own behalf, but more particularly on behalf of all long-distance, travellers to the various termini in Wellington. I desire to take quite an unselfish view of the subject under djscussiqn.. Every. day we see men, 'women, and children suffering through either cheer neglect or bad management of the tramWays' departmental heads. Tho excessive overcrowding, pushing, scrambling, and eiioh like is the text of Imy argument. Folk' living at Seatoun, Island Bay, Karori," and so on are' <lei prived (frequently) of a Beat by pa«tmgers who only intend riding short distances. At present there is no regulation to assist long-distance, passengers. What eorfc of a Tramways Committee have we? Sir, you know; 1 know, we all know that difficulties occUr. They must be met We ratepayers place men in charge to "study our requirements. Are they doing their best? I say "no," emphatically. ( I have been suffering this state of things for sis years, and I'm ,tired now. A tram leavee Government frtatxjii for Seatoun after 5 p.m., also shortly before H6H 6 o'clock—two trams in that one hour. Now, then, frequently Seatoun passengers are deprived, of a seat. Results Considerable delay in reaching Soatoun, long tiring wait for a seat, and so on. This argument applies to" other lines also— people "push on" at Courtenay-place and Larubton-quay who travel but a short distance. ' We over this side of the tunnel cannot easily get home, because we-, are barred from walking, through the tunnel. People living nearer the city might surely consider us out here. It is ? worse than disgusting to seethe state of things at Courtenay-place and other spots. It is criminal for any local body to allow ouch a state of things to exist. Supposing th» brakes failed in the tunnel or on the grades, what about the dozens who stund Up in those _ "palace" cars? The whole system requires careful scrutinising. I should like a 6©at oiv that Tramways Committee for six months. How many of the genflemen on that committee suffer as we ratepayers do? Name two. ' Women with wee small mites m arms ; men with their bags, struggling for a seat after toll. Is it correct? My suggestions for improvements are as follow:— Dealing first with my otrti district: Special cars from Courtenay-place to relieve pressure should run to Lyall Bay or Collyer's Corner. Next, all Seatoun through cars to carry 4d fores only —i.e., full fare to Seatoun and a similar arrangement for Miramar. This would stop many from ju«t jumping in tor a few yards journey. People jump on to cars and get out at Courtenay-placa, thus depriving Seatoun folk of their privilege of toe journey. Noxt, no oars ehould finish the journey at Kilbirnie Hotel section. Several, cars have lately been taken- off the Kilbirnie run. One time We had very fair service out there. We object to cars stopping at the hotel. My wife has frequently had full through fare (2d) from Courtenay-place taken from her and, had to alight at end of the first section. l 4 Some relief for inward-bound passengers in the morning ig also wanted. The old style of running the specials from /Lyall Bay corner suited vory well. Now, regarding Karori and Seatoun, if a special follows close up, the "through" cars ehould wait, and allow all passengers to get Beats when the special arrives at its farthest point. In Home oases the Karori service is thug affected now. I question if it is with dejiartmeiital authority, though. J came in from N»pier by train recently, jumped on to a ear at Government station bearing the Seatoun designation. I waited 20 minutes for tho car to start. The conductor came for the fare. "Oh! wo only go to Kilbirnie Hotel." Hundreds of instances of neglect on the part of tha caretakers of the cars cai> t point out. Why are our ears not labelled properly? I thought that car was bound foi Seatoun In tfi« Interval between my taking a seat and tha commoneeinent of the journey the destination sign had uee« altered. The othei day, at Courtenay-plaeo, a very old matt with a few parcels tried to got a seat. H» lives at Seatoun. No jolly fear; h» bad to wait. Probably his opportunity wai lost through some, selfish individual who wanted to rids a quarter of a milo or «o. In conclusion, I wloh to «ay I cannot see one scrap of reason for this continual, exedssive, criminally dangerous, and bad state of overcrowding. Bungling on th& part °l those, responsible is my opinion. Why 9 -1 1 < tnoße workers" return tickets not be available up to a later hour? What about those working overtime? 1 candidly belietfti a tramwfty board— such as we old Chnrtchureh folk are proud at— would be bew.— l am, et«., „., t . . RATEPAYER.