THE TRAMWAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8184, 27 July 1912, Page 8

THE TRAMWAYS

DIVERSE OPINIONS OPEN' MEETING ON THURSDAY* i On Thursday evening rest the city council will hold a special meeting for public discussion of tramways rcorganisatiou. Though about four hours (in tw«i meetings) has been spent in committee on this question, it is understood that very few points of agreement have been arrived at. 'Hicre aro ai many different opinions as there arc members of the council. The unrestrained freedom of discussion allowed in committee was responsible, it is said, for a considerable waste of time, and certain members are credited with speaking half a dozen times during one discussion. On Thursday, of course, the closure will bo applied after each individual councillor has expressed his views. “My opinion is that wo could dispose of the whole matter in twenty minutes in open council,” remarked one member to a “Times” representative. Very little of a definite or illuminating nature may accordingly ha gleaned as to what - the council will do until the “full-dress” debate. There seems, however, to be a consensus of opinion that various section lengths will be made shorter, in accordance with the tramway board’s recommendation, It is tolerably certain that the ride from Newtown terminus to Thorndon will comprise three sec,, tion, though whether the first seo tion will end at John street or the Basin Reserve is doubtful. As in-; dicatod in yesterday’s “Times” the board does not press for the threepenny minimum on Sundays, ami makes a suggestion that transfers be, granted in cases where the holder must change cars to reach his destination. The most diverse opinions exist among councillors as to concessions, and it is difficult to state at this juncture what will bo the council’s decision in the matter. During the discussion the question of workers' ticket? was raised —although the tramway board has so far made no recommendations as to these—and it is understood that the board has been asked to go into the matter of workers* concessions and bring down some sug. gestious for Thursday’s meeting. It is believed that power may be sought to curtail the issue of workers’ tickets, tho revenue derived from this source being in no way commensurate with the expenses of carriage. A good deal of favour has been shown to the alternative scheme of fares suggested by tho board,, whereby penny sections will;bo charged for aa at present, namely without concession, and sectional tickets be issued at tho following rates:—2'section . tickets, 14 rides for 2s; 3 section tickets," 12 rides for 2s 6d; -4- section tickets, 12 ridoa for 3s. Holders of these ticketn could then travel as follows:—lsland Bay to railway station, 3d,Newtown terminus to railway station, 2jd; Lyall Bay to railway station 3d; Miramar boundary to railway station, 3d. This arrangement would ■ have tho effect of cheapening the fares to residents of outlying districts,, while tho authorities compute that the increase of, revenue will not be less than that estimated in a previous-report—about £IO,OOO. per annum. Even thin amount falls'short by about £SOOO of tho total sum which will have to bo raised to meet increased expenditure under all heads and the £SOOO per annum to_ be set aside for renewals and depreciation.