SUBURBAN TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17942, 18 November 1921, Page 4

SUBURBAN TRAFFIC.

The latest observations by the Minister for Railways regarding the reduced fares on suburban lines may imply a quite unobjectionable intention, but the management of the department is so notoriously illinformed on public requirements that it is necessary to considor the ! alternative possibility. It is possible, and indeed probable, that the | Minister may be able to produce "conclusive" statistics to show that there is no warrant for continuing the concession in cases where suburban development has not taken place and is not reasonably to be expected, but there is a suggestion in the Minister's statement that the ■public has not responded to its (efforts to encourage residence in the extra-urban areas. The trouble is that the department has never appreciated the real value of suburban passenger traffic, and has never attempted to foster it. The initial mistake was made of creating suburban areas of 20 miles radius at (each of tho four centres, without consideration of the different condiitions of population and growth, and | while in some cases the department lis giving unnecessary concessions in fares to " sparsely-populated districts," it has refused to provide the I regular fast services that are required in such densely-populated suburbs as those of Auckland and Wellington. Although under proper management no class of railway traffic is more profitable than tho transport of suburban passengers, J the department neither seeks this j business for its own advantage nor | undertakes to provido the cheap and I rapid transit which the public has a right to demand of it. A map of Auckland showing tho railway and II lift tramway routes, and a comparison between the fares charged, is a complete demonstration of tho lethargy jof the department in this matter. Before the Minister authorises any curtailment of suburban facilities, he would bo wise to carry tho investigation beyond tho department's " conclusive statistics," and ascertain whether the loss of revenue of which ho complains could be remedied by the application of more ability and initiative in thi; management q£ |ho servicev