TRAMS v. BUSES.

Evening Star, Issue 23349, 19 August 1939, Page 20

TRAMS v. BUSES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I noted in a Wellington newspaper recently statistics relating to the New Zealand electric tramways for the past twelve months. I havp been patiently watching local papers tor a similar statement, as no doubt the local tramways department has a copy of the statement. Or is it that tho department is ashamed of the figures, and in its usual fashion of suppressing facts detrimental to its policy of “ boosting ” buses, it has decided to ignore the statement? The most outstanding portion of the statement is that relating to passengers carried, as follows: —-Auckland, increase 2,368,000 passengers; Wellington, increase 615,000; Christchurch, decrease 185,000; Dunedin, decrease 444,000. It will thus be seen that Dunedin, with the smallest population of the four main centres, has shown a remarkable decrease in passengers carried. Our Tramway Committee should explain why this has happened. A business concern is judged by results. Our tramways department, with a monopoly of transport, has failed at least to hold its position. What is tho reason? Is it that tho tramways department is pursuing a retrogressive policy, or is it that Dunedin is lagging still further behind the North Island. —I am, etc., • Mac. August 19.