TRAM CONCESSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1935, Page 9

TRAM CONCESSIONS

THE 3/6 TICKET MOVE FOR REDUCTION EEPOET TO BE MADE A general desire for universal tram fare reductions was evident amongst councillors at last night's meeting of the City Council, even those who • deprecated immediate action cmalifying their caution by wistful hopes that reductions might be possible. It was decided, however, though regretfully, that insufficient information was available to deal with the matter before the elections, and that a report be obtained from the tramways committee. In accordance with notice, Councillor W. Duncan moved as follows:— That in view of the growing congestion of population in the city, I beg to move that the universal tramway concession ticket now sold at 3s 6d (entitling a person to ride from the central section to any point on the tramway system for one clip) be reduced to 3s as from April 1 next. Since 1931, said Councillor Duncan, the price of the universal tickets had been raised from 3s to 3s 6d. He had then considered that the wrong thing was being done to the people in the suburbs. The 6d had been-put on at a time when the people could least afford it—the worst j period of the slump. It hit suburban dwellers hard. Today things seemed a little better. The city was congested and the council should give a lead to induce people to go into the suburbs. The railways had found out after years of experiment that when things were bad peopfe would not travel, and, after trying increasing the fares, had discovered that travel could only be induced by reduced fares. It might be said that. the tramways could not afford this concession, but he took it that the reduction to 3s would result in such further use of the trams that any loss would soon be made up. He did not suggest that it should apply to Sunday fares. GOVERNMENT'S DISCOVERY. Councillor R. Semple, M.P., in seconding the motion, said he had fought the increase. The Government had discovered that putting up fares from Petone to Wellington was a mistake. Councillor W. Appleton ( as one who had opposed the increase, said that the tram service must be taken as a whole, and even though 3s 6d to the suburbs might not pay, he suggested that special shopping tickets be instituted for suburbs such as Miramar. These tickets, used in the middle of the day, got the shoppers out of town before the evening rush. Councillor W. H. Bennett took exception to the terms of the motion, as coming from a councillor not on the committee which regulated such matters. If Councillor Duncan would make the motion a recommendation to the tramways committee to consider the matter, he would support it. REVENUE ASPECT. Councillor T. Forsyth said that the motion could not take effect until the new council came in, and the effect of the 6d reduction could not be assessednow. The financial position should be considered. He moved as 'an amendment that the matter, be referred to the tramways committee for a report, the report to state the amount of loss by the reduction, and also the effect on the position of the central services, which carried the burden. Councillor P. Fraser, M.P., said that while wishing to see the reduction made, he wanted to know what the reduction would mean. Councillor Forsyth: £13,000. Councillor Fraser said the, question should be referred to the tramways committee for a' report before the council was asked to decide one way or the other. A CHANGED OUTLOOK? Councillor T. Brindle remarked that Councillor Duncan had recently changed his outlook on tramway fares, for on a previous occasion he had moved an amendment when tram fares were under discussion that the Is 6d tickets should be increased to Is 9d, and the 3s tickets to 3s 6d. A councillor: Was that just after an election? Councillor Brindle said that he could not say, but the council • was just on the eve of an election now. If a reduction could be made, then no one would be more pleased than he, but for one of the business men's representatives to come down with a notice of motion affecting city finances without any figures or any idea of what the effect. would be seemed absurd. . '. ' Councillor J. Burns said that there was some opposition when the 3s fare was first introduced on the ground that there would be a, loss of revenue, but, nothing was heard of increases in other directions, in increased use of electricity, water rates revenue, etc. When the increase from 3s to 3s 6d was made it was generally understood that it would be only temporary! It did not follow that the amount of £13,000 mentioned by one councillor would be fully realised, for there must be counterbalancing assets.' Full information should be before the council before any decision was made. Councillor C. H. Chapman, M.P., said that every member of the council was in favour of the cheapest possible fare, and an examination of the accounts of the tramways department suggested that in the past half the capital expenditure Tiad v been made from surpluses gained from fares at too high a level. He would like to see the whole position investigated. Councillor W. J. oaudin said that Councillor Duncan had not given a single figure in support of his proposal. A report was necessary and should be laid before the council at its next meeting. , Councillor P. M. Butler congratulated Councillor Duncan on his heroic effort in the last days of the council, but said that he hoped the effects would be more happy than Councillor Duncan's successful campaign to have the fruit barrowmen removed from the city streets, which had resulted in a loss of £2000 per year in revenue and greater congestion in Cuba Street through the operations of all sorts of hawkers, who took away the legitimate business of shopkeepers, and getting rid of the city organist, with the result that the council had to reduce the practising fees to get anyone to play on the organ.. He would like to see fares reduced, but he wanted to know more about the effects of such a proposal before voting upon it. Councillor .Duncan said that he could give instances where the tramways department could save a good deal of money, for instance- in car allowances. One officer used his car to drive home for meals. Councillor Butler said that Councillor Duncan was not playing the game. It was no part, of a councillor's work to follow council officers round to see where they ate. While fully in sympathy with the desire for reduced fares, the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) thought it would be unwise to sanction any reduction before they knew, exactly, what it