THE TRANSPORT BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 16

THE TRANSPORT BOARD.

Sir—When I wrote-my letter giving figures relating to costs of bus undertakings my only desire was to state certain facts and not to enter into any corftroversy. Mr. Ernest A. Pea.rce will find the figures difficult to dispute, out he i& in error in stating they are equally difficult to prove. 1 suggest that if he is unwilling to accept the evidence of (he technical press, he should communicate with the authorities in the cities named by me, viz., Melbourne, Wellington and Auckland, when I am sure he will get all the confirmation he wants. The engineering publications have fpr a long time given a great deal of 'information relating to transport matters, and it- p'izzles ne how there ran be so much criticism when . the experiences of other places show that our Transport Board is -handling matters ably and well. As an engineer I nave been trained to study facts and not .to ' be led astray by opinions unsupported by data, and I am sure that a study of the facts would stop the senseless criticism. - Engineer.

Sir, —In the statement of annual losses on buses reported recently, it was also recommended that the Point Resolution bus should become a feeder service. That . would surely accentuate' the loss. The transport problem is the result of modern inventions of machines and the scientific development of industry, to provide the power to drive them. Owing to the continuofis -expansion of industry, and the wide realms of scientific discovery still " j to he explored, no one can claim to be expert in a solution of the problem. Any < discussion on the .subject of public versus private ownership must be given serious thought. The practical side of the prob- • lem is how to .facilitate the extension of the services and protfect the public interest against inefficiency and extrava,gance of public administration, or the monopolistic character of private ownership. The relation of Government and transportation must be based on commoninterests and ' the highest standards of ' ethics and'practice must be applied. Forrest Brown. Point Resolution.

Sir, —Your correspondent F: Goert;:, in your issue of 27th inst., says:—"The outstanding feature of the situation is not that lowjer fares, are uneconomic, but that the undertaking is not running to capacity. Knowing this the board has again increased the fares, while talking of the necessity for popularising the transport system to regain the lost passenger!!. Does "Tramway Passenger,'' your correspondent of Tuesday, consider that a masterpiece of business acumen?" I reply, it is not a question of -business acumen at all (although I maintain the board have abundance), it is simply the logical of the law . of cause and effect beyond the power of any board or business head. The cycle of the age has brought with it problems without precedent, detrimentally affecting every tramway service, in the world. As a case in point, the motor-car. Do not, therefore, expect an honourable body of men to work miracles that are impossible. Tramway Passenger.

Sir, —Having been in . the passenger transit business for 16 years, horse buses, steamers, petrol buses and electric traction, I claim to know just a little about this matter, and my advice to the ratepayers who own this concern is to look after it, and do not be misled by any flat rate bogies. Flat'rate fares mean; higher r(Sits in outer suburbs for the benefit of the few. An elective board is dangerous for the reason the person who will give it out that lie will reduce fares, irrespective of whether the concern can stand it or not, will be elected, and you may for a time get a cheap fare, but remember, your rates can be increased to meet .. any deficit in the undertaking, which will not affect the person who has sold his | sections. To my. mind, a board of five ;4 members nominated by the Government would be success tiaan any elective board, and would do' away with' this . unwarranted criticism of city versus "sub l urbs. Finally, the, present board .is doing its best, so it should not be harassed, but rather given every encouragement. J; , Shareiicl.der.

Sir, —Will you allow me space to record two reasons why the Transport Board- is subject to so much adverse criticism which lias not all been destructive: (1) The Buckland Road bus service operated by the board is about 11 mfleis in distance out and back. The fare is cash 7d way, or Is 2d fetftrn. There is no opposition, and the' buses are allowed to be crowded during rush hours beyond their capacity. The Passenger Transport Company, which is handicapped by the penal fare along the' Great South Road to the tram terminus, and which carries iu some of its vehicles a notice forbidding standing passengers, charges a cash fare pi only Is 3d for a journey of about,-18 miles, viz., from the city to Panmure and back. This is seven more miles and only lil more. (2) In June of this year the traffis manager of the board was reported in the local press as stating in reply to a criticism of Auckland's dirty trams, ,that, owing to a shortage of- cars, none could be sipared for a lengthy overhaul, but. in two or three months, 25 new cars would be operating, and then the trouble' would be relieved. We . are now at> the, end of November, and there is no sign of any new car, either from the board's workshops, or from private sources. In tha Herald of June 12, 1928, was published a sub-leader, the following being an extract therefrom: »"Mr. Allum lias • evidently realised that city ratepayers will not patiently suffer the committees temporising with the problem. He has, therefore, proclaimed a policy of tramway extensions, with feeder bus services, and has made a vague suggestion that bus'services showing a heavy loss will not be maintained indefinitely. His observations on the latter point are a repetition of statements that have been, made at intervals for many months; the council has continually been upon the point of eliminating services run at a heavy loss, but gs often postpones the action that is demanded in the interests of city ratepayers, and for which the suburban districts earnestly asked." Since the above was published the Transport Board has been sanctioned and formed, and to me.it appears that the board, is deserving pf all the criticism fired at it by both press and public. The board refused to try the flat, rate, in the interest of the city ' portion of its area, but immediately penalised a great number of them by raising the concession fares in this particular; -area. Grey Lynn, Parnell, Remuera, Epsom and part of Ponsonby, all portions gf the city, and are thus penalised. Ernest J. Hamlet.