THE THREEPENNY FARE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 10

THE THREEPENNY FARE

AND ACCESS WORKS

DEFINITE RELATION

"My remarks on the relation of the eastern and western access works to tho universal tram fare was a statement of fact and not a threat.to anyone/ said 'Councillor G. Mitchell today, in reply to correspondence criticising a statement be had made from the platform' as a candidate for the City Council. "A progressive and substantial drop h- tho tramway receipts continues, and economics must bo effected to balance tho fall in revenue. It stands to reason that tho shorter and better access to both east and west will effect material savings in time and running costs. Such were the principal reasons advanced for completing these routes, which every councillor, including those backed by tho Ratepayers' Association, subscribed to. I say quite definitely that the action of tho Ratepayers' Association iv preventing the completion of the eastern and western access, thereby preventing economies in running costs, may make it impossible for the threepenny universal fare to be maintained. "Not only has the Ratepayers' Association prevented tho shorter route via Sydney street; it has also stopped tho straightening of tho present tram tracks right up to the Kclburn viaduct. This road, with the winding tram rails, is tho most dangerous in tho city. It has been widened at great expense i'or tho purpose of straightening the dangerous bends prior to completing the bitumen surface as soon as the tram tracks are straightened. The money is available for both these works, men are idle, and tho work could be completed at once \without adding one penny to the rates. "Citizens generally have to thank the Ratepayers' Association for blocking better tram access cast and west and jeopardising the present threepenny universal faro, and the citizens of tho whole of the western suburbs iv particular must realise that it has prevented the straightening of tho tram tracks and the completion of their main access road up to the viaduct. Does the Ratepayers' Association think . it can hoodwink tho electors by putting the retention of tho threepenny faro on its platform, when it has stopped the better access and tramway improvements which would help to retain it?"