THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17293, 17 October 1919, Page 6

THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

The policy of tramway management enunciated by the DeputyMayor will find little favour with the citizens of Greater Auckland. There ■was a general expectation that public ownership of the tramways would be accompanied by a progressive expansion of transit facilities to meet the requirements of a rapidly-growing city, and on Tuesday the Herald reminded the City Council that it was time to set about the formulation of a comprehensive programme of extensions and improvements. Mr. Entrican does not deny that the tramway development has fallen far behind the growth of the city, and that a great deal must be done before the service can provide adequate and convenient means of communication between the city and its suburbs. Yet the request for better services is dismissed with the excuse that rails and cars are dearer than they were before the war, the suggestion being that the city must suffer an inadequate service until prices return to the pre-war level. It is surprising to find that municipal affairs in Auckland are still conducted under a belief that the restoration of prewar conditions is a practical contingency. Even such an optimist as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives has said that " if we are going to wait for adjustment until a restoration of normal conditions, we are not going to get there in the time of any of us." As in the conduct of national affairs, the management of the Auckland tramways must be based on a prudent recognition of conditions as they exist to-day. There is an urgent need for improvement in the services ; they are generally inadequate, and the deficiencies are not by any means confined to the "rush hours." These conditions must, be remedied, and reasonably sufficient and convenient facilities provided. If the Council finds the present revenues do not warrant the necessary improvements, means must be taken to obtain funds by shortening the sections. It is obviously preferable to have a good service and pay for it than to continue cheap fares without enough cars to carry tie people.