RUSH-HOUR PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 8

RUSH-HOUR PROBLEM

A second conference called by the Auckland Transport Board to consider peak-load traffic on the trams, and the possibility of giving relief at rush times by "staggering" hours of work was able to contemplate some progress since the previous meeting. There was little definite promise of further help, but an undertaking to do anything that proved possible was given. The difficulties that were mentioned give point to a comment made at the time of the first conference —that this is an effort to adapt .community movements to the needs of a public service rather than to make the service conform to the habits of the people. So it has been found that an Apparently simple readjustment of working hours may face difficulties unsuspected when first proposed. It is probably true, as the chairman of

the board suggested, that the petrol restrictions have added to the problem. The return to the trams that this has encouraged is good luck for the board in one way, promising to add substantially to its revenue, but intensifies the strain on its plant at times of maximum demand. In any event, the main feature of the position as considered yesterday is that something substantial has been done to help the board by co-operation and voluntary action. Tho board could only ask. It has no power to demand compliance with its proposals. However, the mere fact that a simple request has proved effective so far as revealed is refreshing in these days when it is too often assumed that regulations and compulsion must be used to meet ever}' difficulty.