A FURTHER DENIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1931, Page 11

A FURTHER DENIAL

To this furHicr statement Air. Appleton icplics as follows: — "At the outset I made it quite clear that I was absolutely opposed to any idea of curtailment-in -the tramway scr\iccs>, because in my opinion to make the service of 12 minutes instead of 10 would bo a retrograde step and we would really lose more revenue than wo would gain in running costs. Furthermore, I was absolutely opposed to the idea of putting uioro men off, and, as a matter of fact, all membe-is oi the committoo were-.of one mind on this point. "In regard to the statement about 300 men being dismissed because of a reduction in the rates, the- Mayor himself stated at last night's meeting of the City Council that not ono single n.an had been put off as a result of reductions in the rates. All the men who wore unfortunately put off were dismissed because of the completion of works which wcro paid for out of loan moneys, which are now exhausted, such as street widening, paving, etc." Mr. Appleton said that he was altogether opposed to any increase in tho threo shilling tramway concession card, and in hia opinion, if any deficit had to be made up ho would prefer to see it put on to the- general rate, although ho himself was a substantial ratepnycr. lie considered that there was a moral obligation on the part of the council to maintain the three shilling rate card because people in Island Bay, Karori, and other suburbs had built homes thcro on the" understanding that tho universal fare would prevail. Tho policy of the Railway Boaid had proved beneficial, and tho same thirig would happen with the city's tramways if the present faie was maintained. Another point that-hc had made, said Mr. Appleton, was that business conditions wero improving. This was already noticeable in the city, and towards tho end of tho year tho extra revenue on the trams would preclude any necessity of raising the fares.