RAILWAY FARES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 October 1931, Page 10

RAILWAY FARES.

[to the editor.] Sir, —I should be glad if you could obtain for me the exact position as regards the recent reductions of fares on the Railways. The country was informed that railway fares were to be reduced 20 to 25 per cent., and this, of course, would, or should have meant, a corresponding reduction in excursion fares, particularly with regard to Christmas travelling. If there is to be no corresponding reduction in the excursion fares, then, strictly speaking, no reduction has been made. The only change that has been made in that case is merely an extension all the year round of excursion rates. You, of course, are aware, Sir, that the great hulk of the travelling is always done at Christmas and other holiday times, the travelling in between these periods being very smal indeed, the Railways people really giving very little by extending the excursion rates. If, on the other hand, the corresponding reduction in Christmas excursion rates is to be made then this will indeed be a benefit to the crowd of pieople uSing the Railways at that time. If this corresponding reduction is not to be made, then the Railways authorities should publicly announce the position, so that the travelling public will know exactly how they stand, and that no reduction in the railway fares has been made, but merely an extension of the excursion rates to the few people using the railways on other than holiday occasions.—Yours, etc inquirer.'