“BUSITIS.”

Evening Star, Issue 23326, 24 July 1939, Page 10

“BUSITIS.”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The article on ' Abandoned Electric Tramways " in. the ' Star ' of the 17th inst. -was very timely, as an antidote to tho statement that has been assiduously circulated in Dunedin that " busitis " is a disease peculiar to this district. From the information given in your article it now appears certain that the disease has been much more virulent abroad, and that it appeared at least 10 years ago both in Britain and America. No less than 150 tramway systems in Britain alone have succumbed, the result being that the standard tramway as we Iknow it has disappeared in these places. Can you inform your readers what the early symptoms are? It is claimed by observant travellers that the first sign is a persistent drop in tramway passengers, and a consequent'reduction in revenue, until the authorities find that they must either strike a rate to make up the loss, adopt some markeshift policy such as " power for nothing " —which sounds mightv like " costless credit " —or boldly face the fact that the standard tramway system is becoming out of date and that other systems, whether motor or trolly bus, may stop the drift and in many cases have already done so. Why not Dunedin? —I am, etc., Facts are Chiels. July 24.