COLLECTION OF TRAMWAY FARES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6728, 7 September 1883, Page 3

COLLECTION OF TRAMWAY FARES

TO THE KDITOIt. Sin,—l hava read a letter in your paper of to-day concerning the collection of tram fares. I fear that "A. A.'s " system of tokens would not even approach a" satisfactory result in working. ' So far as the public is concerned, the cars ara looked upon ,simply as a convenience, and passengers generally do not care a rap whether shareholders do or do not receivo a, fare from each individual travoller, consequently every littlo worry in the way of paying lareß tends to the decrease of traffic.

The idea of a fare box and tho use of tokens on a " dummy " car is not wortii the ducusaal, and tho fare-box, minus the token, is only practicable in one-horse cars that have no rear platform. The notion of allowing no one to travel without a token is "too-too utterly" I behind the times. It might suit such regular stagers as "A. A.," but would bo absurd in the caso of: strangers or casual travellers. On high days and holidays I make bold to assert that boys and fare-boxes will not be trusted with all the responsibility, and changes in the manner of collection are for many reasons to bo deprecated. "A. A.'s" idea of making all train-tickets within the town and Buburbs transferable is a good one, and there should be no difficulty in carrying it into effect, this only provided : the Beveral Companies must collect their fares on ope fixed principle, and pas 3on the checked tickets to their respective offices, where they should be sorted and exchanged at oertain fixed periods. Our methods of fare-collecting in _Uunedin must be admitted to be primitive to a degree. Tramway directors want waking up a bit. Why do not these gentlemen avail themselves of tho experience gained by the management of the first-class lines in both Great Britain and the States, where every method of collection has been fairly tested, and a general uniformity has resulted, to the profit of the promoters and the convenience of the passongers 1 The travelling public expoct in theße days comfort and ease. Let them not-he baulked of demands that can be without difficulty satisfied.—l am, &0.,' Spoorweg. September G.