EXCURSION FARES. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6192, 13 December 1881, Page 4

EXCURSION FARES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, —I think tho Railway Department and tho Union Stoam Ship Company display a want of business tact in tho mattor of advertising excursion fares during the holidays. In catching fish you must uso a clear, decided, and tempting bait to got a good haul. Now take the advertisement of tho Union Steam Ship Company, Is thoro ono in a hundred who knows the exact amount of two

single faros to any givon port; and evon il thoy did, is it not too bad to imposo a sum in

arithmetic which thoy must solvo boforo thoy can toll tho amount of faro they will have to pay, say, to Lyttelton and back ? Tho Railway Department arc- not n whit bottor. Thoy compol tho would-be excursionist to do both a lossnn in geographical measurement and a sum in mental arithmetic, as por oxamplo :—Thoy advortiso a single faro for tho return journny to, say, lnvereargill. Now ho must find out first how many miles tlio distanco is from his station and tho rate

}>or mile ; than ho has to multiply tho iiumbor of miloH by tho rato boforo ho gots at tho cost of tho rido ; ovon thon ho may bo doubtful of his " cookor," and quito lilcoly pivos up tno idea of tho trip. Oil, doar ! why cmi t tho 'railway folks and tho U.S.S. Compniiy' ndvortiso as plainly and as concisely as jwssiWo the lowost roturn fares to all .statums nnU ports as follows ?

NHW JSKALAXI) II.UI.WAVS. Hilton Agricultural Show Cheap Fares: (Ja there and back.

—I am &c,

Excursionist

December 12th,