SELLING THE BUSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 147, 21 May 1930, Page 2

SELLING THE BUSES.

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—Let me congratulate Sheldon on his comments under the above heading, but he does not make the most of his arguments. One of the reasons the buses are not better patronised is owing to the fares being too high. Now you know that when penny postage was introduced into this country the Postal Department made a bigger profit at the reduced rate than at twopence. Tho maximum bus fare of twopence over any route should be tried.. This would induce people to get into the bus habit. Tram cars are more costly to run than buses, yet in Napier concession tickets of twelve rides may bo obtained for one section (distance approximately one mile) for fifteen pence —one penny farthing a ride. Wellington, one section, costs twopence per single ticket; concession tickets twelvo rides, eighteen pence, usable any section. Concession twelve trip tickets over five sections cost three shillings. Wellington trams running every three minutes are usually packed. The people have quick and cheap transport ana have acquired the tram habit. Another point for consideration is the time-table. Revision of the time-table seems to mo necessary. Buses arrive in the Square in the morning too late to allow of business people, especially employees, to reach their destination in time. Then, again, departures are too close to the hour to allow employees tipie to get from their shop or office to catch the bus. Another factor is the very restricted bus service—the interval between the buses is too long. In Napier, from 7.30 to 9.30, trams run every ten minutes, same between 12 noon to 2 p.m., and five to six thirty p.m.; between those hours the service is every 20 minutes. By all means sell the buses but buy faster and lighter buses, such as are suitable for the enterprise. The heavy traffic motor lorries wo have are unsuitable for the service. If tho council would sell the present fleet and purchase double the number of up-to-date vehicles suitable for passenger traffic, I am sure it would bo a good investment. There is a trite saying that we either progress or go backward. We cannot stand still. Just imagine a city like Palmerston North being without decent passenger transport. It is absurd. A careful analysis of tho reasons of failure should be made and progressive action taken. — I am, etc., PROGRESS.