ST. HELIERS BUSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 14

ST. HELIERS BUSES.

Sir, —" Glendowio" in his letter of Thursday mentions that there are many people in the district trying to teach -MiKeys how to run his service, which ho deplores, and then ho straightway does the same tiling by condemning a body that is at least striving to improve this district. If wo should not criticise the bus service ho should at least not criticise the Ratepayers' Association, for there ho lias means 'if redress (with the bus service we have none), for lie can join the association and air his view* at any of the meetings. Live membeis are always welcome. Your corrcspon dent hails Mr. Keys as a very just man. so I would ask hint how this fits in with his idea of fair play. At the present, time on the back road the distance is nine miles, with four nasly hills and plenty of traffic delays caused through congestion. On the waterfront road this distance is reduced to six miles, with no hills and no traffic delays, so we can | on a conservative basis estimate the reduction in cost of transport at 50 per cent. Now we come to the alleged fiti:• treatment given by the company opera! ing. Concession cards a v u to be reduced from 9s 6d to 7s, workers' Meekly tickets from 6s 9d to 4s 9d. school children and apprentices' tickets, no reduction il am subject to correction in the two latter cases). On working tin's out it shows a decrease of from 18 to 20 per cent. Now, the company decreases its cost 50 per cent., pockets 50 per cent., and passes on only 20 per cent, to Ul9 travellers. If the service is paying now, cud no one can dispute that, (lien I claim this reduction. or Iho biggest percentago of it. should be passed on. This is only on# of many cases that can be quoted against. " Glendowie" in his support of Mr. Keys. Numerous residents (including women! have become so disgusted that they have purchased bicycles and are not using th» buses. The residents are not trying to teach Mr. Keys his business, but are kicking at the fact that fares are out of j all proportion and the mouthpiece of the residents is the Ratepayers' Association where 110 voice has ever been raisud against this fight on behalf of the residents against Mr. Kt\y«. Ab Uno "Disci: Omnis.