POSITION ON TRAMS SERIOUS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 78, 28 September 1918, Page 4

POSITION ON TRAMS SERIOUS

MINIMUM FARES IN RUSH

HOURS

The moßt serious , aspect ■ now of the tramway trouble is the overcrowding, which is becoming more pronounced each day. The management has done everything possible to readjust the services satisfactorily, but it is inevitable under existing conditions that the public should be greatly inconvenienced, particularly during rush hours. The curtailment of the Oriental Bay and Wallace-street services last night helped matters a little, but the overcrowding of inward and outward-bound cars assumed dangerous proportions. The care carried many more people than may be regarded as safe. Passengers crowded on to the platforms, stood on the steps, and squeezed in wherever, possible. It was one matter to board a car. and another to leave it. In short, the overcrowding may justly be termed indecent.

To-day matters showed no improvement; in fact, the reverse was the case. The influenza epidemic appears to have hit the tramwaymen very severely, and more especially the conductors. This morning, it is understood, 1 sixteen conductors reported sick, and this, of course, limited the number of sets available to work cars during the midday rush. There was a wild scramble for seats at Courtenay-place, where big crowds accumulated at intervals. At ten minutes past 12 about 200 people were waiting a chance to reach home. Needless to say, all the cars were very overcrowded; and "the majority of passengers travelled at great discomfort. Since the trouble commenced the number of minimum-fare cars has been greatly increased, with good effect. It has now been decided that on and after Monday,- and until further notice, a minimum fare of 2d will be charged on all outbound cars from the city, on the city-sections, between the hours of 4.30 and 6.30 o'clock, Monday to Friday inclusive, and "from 11.30 to 1.30 p.m. on Saturdays. Ordinary fares will be charged on cars bound in the direction of Lambton station, except on Karori and Wadestown cars. The curtailed service on the Orienta Bay and Wallacestreet lines will be continued to-night.