TRAMWAY TRANSPORT

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 8

TRAMWAY TRANSPORT

(To th« Editor.) Sir,— Firstly I must thank "The Post" for giving prominence to my letter regarding the above-mentioned subject; and secondly the tramways^ de- ■ partment lor its courteous and informative reply. Notwithstanding the case made by the authorities in defence of the present tramway facilities, the position remains as outlined in my letter'i.e., that <D the tram service to and from Athletic Park is quite inadequate to meet present-day requirements; (2) as a result, tramway revenue is consistently suffering losses; (3) citizens are being denied the opportunities to use their own facilities; and (4) the same remarks apply to other localities where large crowds gather, ' for example, the Town Hall (civic, sporting, and other functions), the Basin Reserve and Newtown Park (civic and sporting occasions), and the aerodrome (pageants). On abnormal days tram transport to each of these is insufficient to meet public demand and is, in fact, so inadequate that one wonders if the authorities give any prior study, or even consideration, to the question. As regards Athletic Park in particular: It is true the bottle-neck at the junction of Rintoul and Riddiford Streets offers a problem, but the authorities are in error when attributing this to the fact that practically the whole Test crowd at the Park proceeded to this point, for probably at least 5000 persons escaped by the back entrance and walked via Adelaide Road and/or Tasman Street to the city. Here again valuable revenue to the tramways was lost; and, in my opinion, the authorities would be well advised, if they are anxious to solve the Park transport problem (and to improve revenue) to investigate the practicability of running trams through Adelaide Road and Tasman Street to connect with the existing Wallace Street line at the Show Buildings. The argument that standby time for the tramwaymen would consume the takings is no answer to the question. It is obvious that the revenue must exceed the expenditure and, this being so, that the accrued weekly profits would amount to a good sum in the course of twelve months; and even to the extent of enhancing the revenue sufficiently to avoid increasing fares. Provided with proper facilities, tram passengers would gladly pay on such occasions. Are the authorities satisfied with the position obtaining, and must the present scheme of things (including increasing fares, losses to revenue, overcrowding of trams, and the inconvenience caused to the public) continue during the next 17 years or indefinitely?—-I am, etc., SHANKS'S PONY.

A motion of condolence with relatives of the late Mr. G. F. Judd, secvelary of the Taita Cemetery Board, was passed at the meeting of the board yesterday afternoon. The chairman (Mr. F. S. Hewer) said that Mr. Judd had given valued services as secretary for many years. He had always been willing to assist tfic board in any way | possible.