BUSY TRAMWAYS

Grey River Argus, 9 January 1941, Page 6

BUSY TRAMWAYS

OVER 3,300,000 AUCKLAND FARES. INCREASE IN THE TAKINGS. ' AUCKLAND, January 7In 18 days up to Thursday 3,382,740 fares were paid by passengers on the Auckland tramways. The increase in traffic is indicated by the comparative figures of cash takings, which rose from £33,005 in the previous holiday period to £37,774 -this season, an advance of £4769. The engineer and manager of the Auckland Transport Board, Mr. A. E. Ford, said yesterday that th e system had had a remarkably smooth run throughout the ' holiday period. Nothing better could have been wished'for. There had been no mishaps, and the only claim, against the board had come from a woman passenger, who complained that she had had a pair of silk stockings ruined in a crowded tramcar. The two chief factors in causing th e greatly increased traffic have been the splendid holiday weather and the petrol, restrictions, which have caused large numbers of motorists to use trams wherever possible for short journeys.

It has been a characteristic of these holidays that much larger numbers of people than usual have remained in town. The races and trotting meetings, with, their large attendances, of course, brought very heavy patronage to the trams. Mr Ford stated that throughout all Ih e rush of the holiday season not one complaint had been received regarding the conduct of any member of the staff. On the other hand, letters had been received from passengers expressing their appreciation of the courtesy and efficiency with which the men had discharged their duties often in tryin? circumstances. Owing to war conditions if. has not been possible to complete the building of new cars as would otherwise have been done, but, nevertheless, the heaviest demands of the public were successfully met. There are usually a dozen or more cars in the workshop. bYit repairs had been so planned that every single car was on the road on Christmas Hve. As a matter of fact. Mr. Ford added, the whole of the plant was in better condition than ever it had been.