SUNDAY TRAM FARES

Evening Star, Issue 21504, 31 August 1933, Page 2

SUNDAY TRAM FARES

SUGGESTED REMOVAL OF SURCHARGE AMENDMENT BY CR SILVERSTONE DEFEATED When the report of the Tramway Committee came before the meeting of the City Council last night Cr Silverstone moved as an amendment that the surcharge on Sunday fares be removed as from the first Sunday in October. He stated that it had been said that the reversion to the penny fare on Sunday would cost the corporation £1,600. He doubted that, as the increase of the fare had been followed by a decrease of 44 per cent, in the number of passengers carried on Sundays. The trams were run to give service to the people, and not purely for profit, which seemed to be the attitude of the committee. It was time the council had the last word in such cases instead of the heads of departments. The Mayor said the council’s officers should not he brought into councillors’ speeches. Heads of departments made recommendations and reports to the council at the request of the council, and he though they should not be discussed in the course of debates. (“ Hoar, hear.”) Cr Jones seconded the amendment, and said the policy of the department was driving people away from the trams on Sundays. Cr Marlow intimated that he must support the committee, which had good and sufficient reasons for the attitude it had taken up. They did not want to have to jeopardise the penny fare on week days, because penny fares were wanted on Sundays. Or Allen said he had urged the removal of the surcharge, but ho felt he could not now go past the recommendation of the committee. He suggested that the lower purchasing power of the people was a significant factor in falling traffic returns. Cr Munro supported the amendment. He said that since the faros had been increased on Sundays fewer people had visited the beaches and other places about the city. Cr M'Jndoe said that to make up the loss of revenue the trams would have to carry 46 per cent, more passengers on Sundays, and he had the word of the

tramways manager that the necessity for making greater provision for traffic wouh] absorb the advantage of additional passengers. Cr Campbell said the committee would lie only too pleased to reduce Sunday fares if it could be done. At the present time it was not possible. The amendment was defeated, and the report adopted.