HIGHER TRAM FARES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1940, Page 13

HIGHER TRAM FARES

RATEPAYERS' VIEWS

LETTER TO PRICE TRIBUNAL

INCREASED COST AND REVENUE

The viewpoint of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association towards the proposed increase in certain classes of tram fares is expressed in a letter addressed by the chairman of the association's executive, Mr. H. H. Miller, to the Price Tribunal. ' The text is as follows:— I "Since the publication of the Press report dealing with the application of the Wellington City Council for authority to increase tram fares, I have been asked (as chairman of the executive of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association) why the association was not represented. Of course, the. answer is' that ratepayers elect the council, and as long as it is evident that councillors and officers are studying the interests of ratepayers there is no need for any body of ratepayers (united for self-protection) to interfere; councillors and officers should be able to state a case for the consideration of members of your tribunal. I "There is, however, a need to emphasise this point: Very strong objection will be taken by all ratepayers] to any attempt to place tramway losses \ upon the rates. What is the.position? POSITION STATED. j "(a) The workers claim that owing to the rise in the cost of living they must have increased wages. Very well, that is a matter for conciliation or arbitration. The matter being settled in favour of the men, the natural result is greatly increased running costs, which should, viewed from an economic and business standpoint, be met from revenue produced. This applies to all trading ventures, whether private or local body. I\o one section of the public, i.e., the home owners, who pay the city's rate bill, should be called upon to pay a charge which should be ! spread over all users of the service. "(b) The Wellington tramway service is a very sound commercial proposition, built up by good management and a correct financial policy laid down by early councils, and no attempt should be made in any way—either by interfering with reserves, renewal funds, or any other provision made to meet contingencies—to jeopardise a system that is now safe and sound, and which gives to the people .transport at a rate cheaper than any other city in New Zealand. "No one is questioning the right of men to a good living wage, but there is only one source from which that wage can be met, and that is from the revenue obtained from the particular service to which the particular group of men belong."