WALLACE STREET TRAM FARES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 30, 4 August 1925, Page 7

WALLACE STREET TRAM FARES

10 THE EDITOR. Sir, —As a resident of the vicinity ot Wallace street, I desire to make my protest against the action of the City Council in imposing a 100 per cent, increase in the faros on. this portion of the line to the city. Ever since the Wallace street line was opened the residents of the area lying between Webb street" and John street have been charged the one-section fare either way from Howard street to Jameß Smith's corner, to which latter point at least 90 per cent, of the passengers travel. Now, by the decision ot the council, double the old rate is demanded for the same journey. The ostensible reason given for the increase is that the new connection to Riddiford street hasi cost the council some £15,000, • and as the older portion of the line has never paid its way, additional revenue will have to be provided. I want to point out,. in the first place, that if the figures were taken of the revenue derived from the old line to and from Manners street only, probably a very different result would be disclosed. It is manifest that any cars travelling to Lambton Station by way of Jervois quay must necessarily fail to be a paying proposition, and it is clear that the loss on this portion of the line has been included in the results to which the exMayor referred when the John street extension was officially opened on Friday. Secondly, the cost of the new portion of the line is being saddled entirely on the users of the old portion, because every person travelling along tho. new route from beyond John street pays no more than it would cost by the Adelaide road line, while he would benefit to the extent of arriving nearer to the centre of the city. A further suggestion arises from the fact that the Cuba street shopkeepers seem to have been > as much to the front in the official opening proceedings as the properly-elected representatives of the citizens, and it therefore seems pertinent to inquire^whether the decision to mak« the section terminate at the junction ot Cuba and Vivian streets has been made in the interests of the Cuba streettradesmen. To me. the correct reply seems fairly obvious. Another point I wish to make in connection with this matter is in. respect to the large number of persons who,board tho cars at Manners street and alight at various points all along the way to Wallace street during the dinner hours. Under the new arrangement these people will be put to the inconvenience of walking to Vivian street unless they are prepared to pay the additional fare. Ai most ojE these people are under a time limit, to say nothing of the extra expense, it is obvious that they will suffer vm: necessary hardship. It seems to me that the whole business is very badly advised, and it is to be hoped that the residents of the line affected will take their protest further than this letter with a view of convincing the City Council oi the desirability of a reversion to the former fares.—l am, etc., PROTESTEB. ' 3rd August.