THE TRAMWAY SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 2

THE TRAMWAY SERVICE

SOME SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. CTo the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —As 1 am a constant traveller on the trams, ami as tramway matters in <T eneral (especiallv the management oi our system in Wellington; are looming pretty prominently at present before the public eye. 1 would like to take the opportunity of drawing the management's attention to u lack of system that exists, confining myself to criticism on one particular route only, viz., the city to Lyall Davit is a common occurrence, between 5 and G o’clock every evening, to find the cars on this line so packed with llataitai and Kilbirnie passengers that it is impossible for Lyall Day residents to gel even standing room on the footboards* Consequently passengers waiting at Courtenay Place for the bay ear have to wait until the heavy crush is over. In the mad rush - and .scramble for seats or standing room it is simply a case of the survival of the fittest. 11. a common practice for passengers living inside the town boundary when catching a car in the city to deliberately allow the Kilbirnie box cars to pass on, preferring to wait for the through open palace cars, owing to the bettor seating accommodation. To prevent, or at least diminish this practice I would suggest the management adopt the system in vogue iu Auckland on the Parnell* Kemucra route; make a minimum charge of 3d from the city, and 2d from Courtenay Place during rush hours for all through cars. This plan works admirably in Auckland and prevents the wit iiin-the-city residents ' rushing the long distance cars. In justice to the conductors generally and speaking from my own observations 1 must admit that considering the .difficulties and adverse circumstances they work under when collecting fares in crowded cars they do remarkably well. . • Another cause for complaint is the frequency with which cars leave the city terminus showing the wrong destination. Cars may bo seen several times during the day with the destination showing “Seatoun” or “Miramar in place of “Lyall or Kilbirnie, or vice versa. This is annoying. Again, why does not the council issue up-to-date time-tables as a guide for suburban and sea-sido cars in place of the obsolete time-table nob* in use? Or failing Uiat have time-table notices posted up at the different termini and’chief stopping places. Even the conductors and inspectors themselves arc often at sea when asked for time of departure ofmany trams. —I am, etc., . J T.R.A.M. August Ist*.