TRAMWAYS SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 2

TRAMWAYS SERVICE

PRAISE AND CRITICISM COUNCILLORS AND VISITORS AT VARIANCE Some members of the City Council and prominent bowlers from northern cities are at variance over the qualities of the service given by the Dunedin tramways. While the visitors praise the service and the cheap fares, some councillors consider that there is wide room for improvement. When moving the adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report at last night s meeting of the council, Cr H. C. Campbell said a letter - in the Press had referred to the loss incurred by the department since April 1 last, the revenue had declined by '£3,462, when compared with the figures for the corresponding period, but the expenditure had decreased by a greater amount. Cr F Jones, M.P.: By reduced service. Cr Campbell: No. Cr Jones: Or by reduced wages. Cr M. Silverstone said the tramway revenue was falling, and would continue to fall. It was about time that the council considered the advisability of setting up a committee to investigate the department’s activities. A Councillor: With Cr Silverstone as chairman ?

There was a fair amount of justifiable criticism by the public of the tramways service, skid Cr Silverstone. While expenditure had declined, the service had also declined. A two atid a-half minute service should bo run in the city area. Cr Jones said that the falling off of revenue was a serious matter. It was all very well for the chairman to say that the reduction was offset by ...reduced expenditure, but that was attained only by the reduction of wages. By reducing the service, five department was forcing the people to walk. Christchurch recently introduced cheap, fares to the. beaches, but nothing in the same direction was being done in Dunedin to make the beaches or the Gardens more popular. Cr Begg: Or the weather? Cr Jones: Cr Begg should not decry his own city. He said that the trams could be made more popular by a reduction of Sunday fares. The use of bicycles was increasing. As a result, of the introduction of cheaper fares, the Christchurch tramways last year carried 600,000 more passengers. Dunedin should follow a more progressive policy and encourage people to travel on the trams.

Cr J. j. Marlow said lie would welcome any suggestions for improving the department, but destructive criticism would not carry them far. Prominent bowlers from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch had complimented Dunedin on the splendid tramways service, and they only wished that they had as good services in their cities. The Mayor supplemented Cr Marlow’s statement’s. The visiting howlers appreciated not only the service hut the cheap fares. Replying. Cr Campbell said be Imped that oiie day Cr Silvorstone would be a member of the Tramways Committee. Cr Silverstonc: There will be more trouble then. • Or Campbell said it was interesting to note that the revenue from the hill trams was on the up grade. In the city, fewer men and women were going to work, and when more employment was created the tramway revenue would go up. The report was adopted.