THE TRAM SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 12164, 7 April 1904, Page 2

THE TRAM SERVICE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There are many who, like myself, are asking the question: Will tbe tramways pay? The answer comes spontaneously, " Not unless -there is more economy in management." Yesterday, in -walking along George street, I passed four cars going north. They were close alter each other. No. 1 had three officials and one passenger, No. 2 had four passengers and two officials, No. 3 had five passengers and two officials, No. 4 no passengers and throe officials. It may be asked What are the extra hands for? Some are inspectors, who cow and then ask for one's ticket; the others are men learning to drive the cars. I suppose they are paid while learning. I felt indignant when I was left standing at a street corner waving my arms to a passing car that would not stop to take me on. Surely some of the conductors ilo not rare whether they get passengers or not. It is a little galhng to a heavilyrated citizen to see half a dozen Corporation servants clothed with our money standing round the cars in front of the Post Office. One is an inspector, another will have a stencil-plated cap with the word " Starter." Now, could net the inspector do the starting, or, if they have a timetable, the conductor should start according to it. A few yards further on there is another Corporation man shifting the points. If they had spring points for the Castle street line, two men couid thus be saved. Then there are a number of hands sweeping out the grooves of the rails. Why not have sweepers attached to the cars or use the town sweepers? Further, wo see a man with a pail of whiting making marks at the corners of streets to indicate where the car stops. Surely, a motorman knows a street corner. This is a piece of useless waste, seeing the number of hands outside that might be dispensed with. What about the power and car houses that Mr Goodman keeps shut and closed like a Turkish harem? However, we are waiting for that long-promised bi-weekly return of receipts and expenditure, which will doubtless open our eyes. I would like to ask the chairman of the Tramways Committee, in closing, how many persons are to be killed before the lifeguards are put on the cars.—l <vm, etc., One of the Ownees. April 6.