THE TRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 23099, 27 October 1938, Page 19

THE TRAMS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The council report discloses a disquieting position, but no worse than can bo expected from the present system of management. Casual observers have written to your columns at various times pointing out deficiencies in the service rendered to its customers, the travelling public. These suggestions are generally ignored. Any business which consistently ignores public opinion must suffer. Constructive criticism is essential, and I submit an analysis of the present position and its causes: (1) Overcrowding, (2) empty trams, (3) dirty trams, (4) starved maintenance, (5) waste, (6) not adhering to times, (7) loss of revenue, (8) need for an expert investigation into the causes and remedies, (9) increased fares. (1) Overcrowding can be eliminated with the present rolling stock if correctly used. Inspectors can start trams already comfortably full with a reasonable starting number, leaving the following car to take its own loading, say at the Exchange. Have you noticed the absence of a traffic tramways inspector at the starting point at the Exchange? (2) Empty trams are a result of the above. Watch any time for this on the streets. A few months ago we had the comic opera spectacle of a “ trial service ” to Caversham via Cargill road running alongside the bus, both almost empty. (3) Dirty trams are a byword. A lady lecturer on 4YA compared our cars with slovenly trams seen in Vienna —an excellent advertisement for our fair city, broadcast 9-U over Now Zealand and Australia. The destination sign window on No. 57 could be washed. Poles in need ot paint, badlv rusted, and stop signs on poles rusted through; dirty windows, result of no night cleaning; tickets swept out on to the street at termini. (4) Starved* maintenance is obvious from the Opobo crash. This tram, No. 18, is now overhauled and painted, practically rebuilt. But why wait? An impartial investigation would bring to light an interesting position. Ask those who know. (5) Waste—trams bought for thousands sold as cribs for £2s° average. Then no rolling stock for mass haulage at football matches. Why not use them as trailers, or convert open cars as No. 33? No accommodation, and trams standing outside all night. (G) Not adhering to timetables” see letters to paper for evidences ot this. The whole time-table needs revision. Trams could well be cut down at dull hours from 9.12 a.m. and 8.10 p.m., saving in labour, power, and maintenance, and very little inconvenience would be caused to a few passengers. Christchurch does not run trams when no passengers are wanting them. The whole tram service is m drastic need of overhaul, and a new viewpoint is necessary—not buses, buses, buses 1 Tho cause is obvious, and the remedy equally so.—l am, etc., Vigilant. October 2G. T