TRAMWAY FARES

Evening Star, Issue 14519, 20 March 1911, Page 5

TRAMWAY FARES

MB ALEXANDER'S REPORT AS TO CONCESSIONS.

SIXTEEN SECTIONS FOR A SHILLING. Hi* Worship the Mayor (Mr T. Cole) authorises us to print the following report by Mr C. Alexander, tramways manager: — Re instructions from the Council dated 3th March to report on (1) the advisability of reducing tram fare© without unduly interfering with the revenue; (2) if advisable to reduce the fares to recommend tho best and most equitable way of doing so. I reepectfully beg to report that alter full conetderation of the subject, both from a traffic and financial point of view, I recommend that the following bo the only concessions granted in connection with, the ■' City tramways, and on tho conditions that the same remain in force for a period of one year only, without any alteration during that time:— 1. Children under five years of age, free. 2. Children under twelve years of age, any three one-penny sections tor one penny faTe. 3. School children: Children under fifteen years of age, when going to or returning from school, to be carried any throo sections for a one penny fare. 4. Junior workers: Children under fitteen years of age, working and earning less than 10s per week, to be carried any three sections for a one penny fare. 5. Workers' cars, as at present. 6. Police and detectives, as at present. 7. A one shilling concession ticket, valid for sixteen one-penny sections. In connection with children's fares, I wou'd like to submit for the information ot the Committee the procedure m up ; to-Uate municipal tramways in the Old Country. The general manager of Glasgow got information on this point from tho leading tramways systems, and submitted same to his Council. Tho concessions were as follows: Birmingham.—So concessions aro granted as regards children s fares. Bristol.—Children under three years are carried free. Above three, full fare. No other concessions. Bradford.—All children under twelve half fare. Clrildren travelling to and from school, during stated hours, are charged half-fare up to the age of sixteen. Cardiff.—No concessions. Dublin,—The only concession is special tickets issued at a discount for children up to the age of fifteen attending school. . Hull.—Children under three, carried free. Children when travelling to and from school at three-fifths of a penny, but thoy must travel after 9 a.m. Leeds.—Concession up to twelve years, and up to fifteen years when travelling to and from school. Leicester.—No concessions. Liverpool.—Children under five, not occupying 6eats, carried free. All others full fare. London County Council.—Children under five, accompanied by a paying passenger, carried free, if they do not occupy seats. No other concessions. Manchester.—Under five, free; between five and twelve, half-fare. No fare less than one penny. Scholars under sixteen, half-rates. We3t Ham.—No concessions. Glasgow.—Between ages of five and twelve, half-fare at any time. Children travelling to and from school, half-fare up to the age of fifteen. From the above it will be seen that the concession recommended to children is considerably more liberal than in any of the above leading tramways systems in the Old Country. Further, persons travelling vnder concessions 1 to 6 are carried considerably under cost price. Concession No. 7 is a 25 per cent, reduction on the present cash faro, and, in my opinion, it is the utmost reduction that could be given. This concession would be a, very substantial reduction, to tho one and two-section passengers, who constitute 83.09 per cent, of our customers. Under this concession the St. Clair and Normanby :oncession users would pay only 1-12 of a penny per section more than at present, but they would have the advantage that the tickets would be valid over any section or tectums, and that tho small outlay of one shilling would mako the concession procurable. Some may not look upon this as an advantage, but" where there aro three or lour regular customers from one home the initial expenditure of 7s 6cl or 10s might, on occasions at least, be sufficient to bar them from taking advantage of the present 8& 6d concession ticket. The total revenue for twelve months from the St. Clair concession tickets only amounted to £1,619. Tho estimated total receipts from the North-east Valley concession tickets amounted to about £7OO, being a total of £2,319 for the two concessions'. For the same period our total receipts amounted to approximately £70,000. From this it will be seen that the numbers beueiiting from the present St. Clair aiid Northeast Valley concession tickets are very small in comparison with the number who could avail themselves of the proposed concession. In a report read to the Glasgow City Council on December 15 of last year the general manager stated? "I am strongly of opinion that when the time comes for d concession to bo given in the .shape of reduced fares it should bo given in such a way that the whole body of citizens would get the full advantage." If my recommendation is adopted the following concessions will be done away with : 1. Volunteer Concessions.—Volunteers in uniform any distance for a one penny fare. 2. Volunteers in Camp.—Volunteers travelling in plain clothes, two sections—viz., Post Office to St. Kilda—for one penny fare. This concession works out at per section. 3. Passes.—Fourteen passes issued to outside bodies at a charge of £5 per annum. One issued at a charge of £7 10s per annum. 4. Passes.—Twenty-seven passes issued to officers of other departments at a charge of £5 per annum. 5. St. Clair Concession Tickets.— Three penny sections for twopence. This concession works out at two-thirds of a penny per section. 6. Normanby Concession Tickets.— Three penny sections for twopence. This concession works out at two-thirds of a penny per section. 7. Bath Tickets.—Three penny sections for twopence. This concession works out at two-thirds of a penny per section. 8. Boy Scouts.—Three sections for one penny. This concession works out at one -third of a penny per section. This concession only applies to Boy Scouts over twelve. 9. Girl Scouts.—Three sections for one penny. This concession works- out at one-third of a penny per section. This concession only applies to Girl Scouts over twelve. 10. Technical Classes.—Three sections for one penny. This concession j out at one-third of a penny per section. This concession only applies to scholars over twelve. The persons to whom. Nos. 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 are available can only benefit from same at more or less frequent intervals, whereas they can receive daily benefit from the proposed sixteen rides for one shilling ticket. Regarding concessions 3 and 4, there should be no hardship, as each department can purchase a number of tickets and supply their officers with same, as required. Nos. 5 and 6 are tho St. Clair and Northcoat Valley tickets alteady dealt with.

No. 10 is a concession to 6chool children travelling to the Technical School. This concession would only be done away with in nam©, as tho exact same concession would be valid under concession to school children. At the end of last year, the question of giving reduced fares to workmen and children was discussed in the Liverpool City Council. In his report tho traffic manager stated that "to instituto a system of reduced fares for workmen and children would Tesi'lt in a financial loss." (Liverpool City Council's Tramways Committeo recommended the Council not to institute n system of reduction- of fares for workmen and children.) In tho course of his report he pointed out that the reduction to workmen and school chiLdren at islanchester had resulted in an estimated loss of £5,000 per annum. As already etated, both workmen and children in this (service- are carried considerably undor cost price. _ Persons carried under concession No. 7 are carried at the estimated cost price—viz., |d per section. Comment has often been made of tho cheap fares in tho Glasgow system, whereas I have no hesitation instating that in comparison our fares in Dimedin are much cheaper. 'lhe average distance for one pennv in Glasgow is two miles. Under the proposed concession the average distanco hem for one penny would be one milo twenty-six chains. Two of the principal items in our expenditure aro wages and power, and both these items are ovor 100 per ccut. higher than in Glasgow lti making mv recommendation I am mindful of previous reports dealing with the question of concessions. In mv last report on this matter I stated as follows: —•'Of course, the whole point regarding concessions depends upon the reason or reasons the concession is being given, it tho concession is being given simply because the tramwav system can allord to grant same, then, in my opinion,'the concession given should be such that all users of the tramways would receive an equal benefit." I would like to state that-th© above was written on December 3, 1910, and that the general manager, Glasgow tramwavs, made practically tho same statement to his Council on the 15th of the 6ame month. I have frequently pointed out that if a concession is being"given for the benefit of tho tramwavs department, then the concession should" bo to the long-distance passengers. I make my recommendation on the following grounds:—(l) To simplify working. (2) to secure finality on the question of concessions for a definite period. The Committee will note that the recommendation is made under conditions. The conditions aro simply safety ones, as it may bo possible at the end of one year wo may find that the concession given is more than we can afford, it being impossible to arrive at tho actual effect of this concession, as it all depends upon tho increased number of passengers who will uso tho same. We must rely upon a certain percentage of cash travellers to mako up for loss by concessions and to provide for a safe margin of profit. In conclusion, I would like to state that under my recommendation children under five, children under twelve, children going to school, and children earning a small wage aro provided for, also workmen travelling at definite times; and all other passengers can avail themselves of the concession under which they would bo carried at tho estimated cost price.